Japanese football club Nagoya Grampus belonging to the first division of the J-League first division soccer club Nagoya Grampus is set to work with disabled esports players for Para Esports.
According to the Mainichi and Kyodo News, Nagoya Grampus has been collaborating with companies in its home region of Aichi Prefecture in Japan. This project also see the establishment of a ‘para’ organisation.
Game developer Wonder Planet and local esports organisation Nagoya Oja are also a part of this project. Infact, Wonder Planet is currently hiring people with disabilities to take part in the competition at Nagoya. Nagoya Oja are responsible for providing practice spaces for the para esports club.
“For para esports athletes this is a new way they can even take on the world. I feel very happy to begin this new project,” Grampus President Koki Konishi said.
In addition to this, Wonder Planet and Nagoya Oja are also hoping to create job opportunities for former athletes. They also wish to create a balance between their work and competitive activities.
This push of Nagoya Grampus comes in the light of a recent need to strengthen esports in Japan. The country’s esports industry has even grown to ¥4.8 billion or about $42.5 million in the year 2019.
The Nagoya Grampus organisation consists only on the soccer club. However the club is now set to open entry to athletes who compete in different sporting areas including esports and other traditional sports.
While the esports industry is growing and expanding the world of para esports still have a lot of catching up to do. Currently there are no tournaments for para esports. This initiative by Nagoya Grampus is a step in the right direction. It is surely hoped that there will be more para esports centric tournaments in the future. And will enable such players to compete and win huge prizes.
