North American esports organisation Cloud9 has appointed Samir Bolar as the Executive Director of its youth development programme, known as Training Grounds.
In his new role, Bolar will continue to develop Training Grounds as a ‘holistic learning experience for young gamers’.
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Bolar joins Cloud9 after a four-year stint at Teach for America as its Chief Impact Officer for the Bay Area region. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of teachers across a number of cities.
Jack Etienne, CEO and Co-founder of Cloud9, commented on the appointment in a release: “As the youth esports movement continues to evolve, the knowledge of experts like Samir becomes invaluable.
“His decades of leadership in the education sector are going to elevate Training Grounds across the board and push the whole youth esports ecosystem in the right direction. Thrilled to see what we accomplish together.”
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Open to 13-18 year-olds, Training Grounds is similar to youth programmes used in traditional sports where the focus is on making participants better players alongside developing teamwork and communication skills.
Bolar, the programmes newly-appointed Executive Director, spoke on his new role: “I am honoured to join the Training Grounds team as we expand opportunities for young people to experience the joy, community, and rigor of competitive gaming within a diverse and inclusive environment.
“By focusing on all aspects of youth development, Training Grounds will deliver a truly interactive learning experience, designed by the pros but accessible to all. Thank you to the families, universities, schools, and youth organisations that have set the stage for continued growth in esports education. We look forward to working with you!”
Esports Insider says: Camps focused on cultivating the next generation of esports talent is certainly an interesting concept. With plenty of experience in the education sector, appointing Samir Bolar as Executive Director is a solid move, especially when Cloud9 aims to develop Training Grounds into a world-class initiative.