Bangalore: Former captain of the Indian Cricket Team Rahul Dravid today announced his association with sports non-profit GoSports Foundation. Through this association, Dravid aims to contribute towards the development and mentorship of Indian junior Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Dravid will join the Board of Advisors of GoSports Foundation and will also institute the Rahul Dravid Athlete Mentorship Programme. The mentorships will involve Dravid and his team of experts personally advising select high-potential athletes at key phases in their careers, and also providing them access to scientific expertise, performance and injury management, and allied professional services, so as to provide specific and meaningful support to their young careers.
Speaking on the association, Rahul Dravid said, "Being a sportsperson, I realise the varied support every athlete needs in order to succeed at the highest level. Over the last few years, a lot of effort has been made to develop Indian sports, and our performances at international competitions have been steadily improving. Winning at sport is as much about processes as it is about outcomes and I feel that we must put in place programmes that address the most important needs of young sportsmen and sportswomen as they prepare for competition. I have seen the pride and joy that success at sports brings and I want to participate in the lives and journeys of our young Olympians and Paralympians."
Dravid will bring his experience and knowledge of competitive sports, and his insights on management and administration, and will help GoSports Foundation execute high-impact athlete-centric programmes. Dravid will be hosting a charity dinner event in Bangalore at the end of February in aid of the programmes. Later in the year, Dravid is slated to issue the keynote address at the GoSports Foundation Athletes' Conclave 2014 - a platform for junior and senior athletes of all sporting disciplines to interact, share ideas and enhance their knowledge in the presence of successful sportspersons and industry professionals.
Dravid joins 2008 Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra on the GoSports Foundation's Board of Advisors. Bindra's non-profit - the Abhinav Bindra Foundation - and GoSports Foundation will jointly conduct programmes for the development of junior Indian shooters. Excited to have Rahul Dravid join him on the board, Abhinav Bindra said, "It is a pleasure to be joined on the GoSports Foundation's Board of Advisors by Rahul Dravid. I am looking forward to working with Rahul as I know we share a common vision for the future of Indian sport. He is a sportsman who truly epitomises the spirit of Olympism, and I am delighted that he has chosen to generously contribute his efforts towards furthering the Olympic movement in our country."
Nandan Kamath, the Managing Trustee of the GoSports Foundation added, "We are excited to have Rahul Dravid on our Board of Advisors to support and guide us. He has set the standard as a cricketer and we look forward to having access to his expertise and his wide experiences."
