Naomi Osaka Announces An Expansion of Her Play Academy Initiative Into Haiti and Los Angeles

Play Academy with Naomi Osaka, an initiative that aims to change girls’ lives through play and sport, is expanding to Los Angeles and Haiti

Osaka says the creation of the academies stems from her personal experiences in the realm of sports and the inequities that she has witnessed.

“Growing up I dreamed about winning Grand Slams and becoming number one in the world,” she said in a statement, according to the news outlet. “While it was not easy, my family was dedicated to helping me get the access I needed to reach my goals. But unfortunately, not all girls have the same opportunities that I did. There are huge barriers that girls face in getting active. Some girls, especially those from marginalized communities, never even get the chance to play. The more I learned about these barriers—through my work with Nike and Laureus Sport for Good—the more I felt determined to do something about it.”

The initiative was launched in partnership with Nike and supported by Laureus’ global partner MUFG EMEA.