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Mumbai Indians' annual ESA game at the Wankhede Stadium, on Sunday, turned into a sea of blue, as over 20,000 children filled the stands with unmatched energy, chants, and excitement for their heroes.
Children from across Maharashtra, including visually impaired and specially-abled children, came together for the annual Education and Sports for All (ESA) game -- hosted by Mumbai Indians in partnership with Reliance Foundation and envisioned by founder-chairperson Nita Ambani. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYuP4sCMylx/ Speaking about the infectious energy of the kids, Nita Ambani shared, "First, I must say, look at the joy. The excitement here is so wonderful to experience. It is a very cherished day for all of us at Mumbai Indians. We started ESA by Reliance Foundation 16 years ago and inclusion has always been a part of our ethos," as per a press release. It is worth mentioning that for the first time, 100 visually impaired children attended the ESA game along with hearing buddies. Recalling how the initiative came about, Nita Ambani added, "I was visiting the National Association for the Blind. I have been working with those children for the last twenty years. This was just before the IPL season, and the children told me, 'Nita Ma'am, can we please come for the MI match? We have never been to a stadium before and want to feel the excitement of a live match.' So here they are today. Hundred of them. I hope they go back with cherished memories." Nita Ambani, who is also an IOC member, spoke about Reliance Foundation's larger sporting vision for India saying, "We have reached over 29 million children across 28 states of India through our sport and education initiatives. We work with children from the age of five all the way to the global stage, we provide coaching, sports science, and practice facilities. We have high performance centres not just in cricket, but across athletics, football, and many other sports. Our goal for India is a shared dream that all of us have, is to one day bring the Olympic Games to our country. It is the dream of a billion Indians," the press release added. This year's ESA game saw children from more than 40 NGO partners across Mumbai, Maharashtra, and remote regions such as Satara, Nashik, Valsad, and Igatpuri attend the match. Over 200 specially-abled children along with 100 visual impaired kids also attended the match. Over 550 BEST buses helped transport children safely across the city and state, supported by a team of over 2,400 volunteers from NGOs, Reliance and Dhirubhai Ambani International School, over 100 medical personnel, 92,000 food boxes and extensive on-ground coordination teams. Mumbai Police deployed 550 traffic officers and more than 450 police officers to ensure smooth operations throughout the day. Over the past 16 years, Reliance Foundation's sports and education initiatives have impacted the lives of more than 29 million children and young people across India, using sport and education as tools for inclusion, aspiration, and opportunity. The scale of ESA continues to reflect the collective action and community participation that defines Mumbai Indians' #OneFamily philosophy - making every child feel seen, valued, and included. (ANI)
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