With the “E-Sport Team Schleswig-Holstein”, “the real North” is making history – and wants to pave the way for ten players to become national eSports leaders.
It is pioneering work the likes of which have never been seen before in Germany. Schleswig-Holstein will be the first of all 16 federal states to set up a state selection of young eSportsmen to support them on their way to professionalism.
The goal: to “pave the way to the national top” for ten selected young gamers in League of Legends and FIFA, according to a press release from the esports player foundation.
Wholistic support
The first global not-for-profit funding institution in the field of eSports aims to assist the selected gamers on all levels. Not only in-game coaching and corresponding hardware are to bring the talented players to the next level.
In addition, sports medical and psychological assistance, nutritional counselling and media training will also be part of the northern German eSports offensive.
Partners of the esports player foundation are EDEKA Nord and the Ministry of the Interior of Schleswig-Holstein. The ministry has supported progressive eSports projects time and again in the past. For example, through the establishment of regional but also a state-wide centre for eSports and digitalisation in Kiel.
Strategic investment continues
A long-term strategy, as the state secretary in charge, Kristina Herbst, revealed: “With the previous state funding totalling 1.5 million euros for numerous eSports projects, primarily broad-based sports structures have been created from which only performance-oriented eSports can grow.”
In Schleswig-Holstein, women and girls are also to be integrated into these structures. According to the announcement, at least two of the ten available places will be awarded to female players, who can then look forward to twelve months of support.
For Jörg Adami, co-founder of the esport player foundation, “a unique opportunity to train in a highly professional environment and prepare for a career as an eSports professional” – which he hopes will set an example: “We thank our partners for their commitment and hope that other federal states will follow this example.
