New Delhi: In continuation of its association with sports, Pepsi on Tuesday launched the first-of-its-kind Sports ID card in India in association with Vertex Sports Management and Mindzone.com. Launched in Delhi, the concept would be introduced in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Calcutta over the next two years. The idea is to have 24 clubs under the Sports ID banner which would be active within two years. According to Lloyd Mathias, vice-president (marketing), Pepsi Foods Ltd, ``Pepsi has always taken the lead in creating excitement through sports. The Sports ID Card is a unique initiative towards that direction, which will provide a lot of fun to sports-loving young people.''An annual fee of Rs 1,000 has to be deposited to get Sports ID membership. Students, however have to pay only Rs 100 for a year. All members will be divided into four clubs: Eagles, Tigers, Sharks and Dragons who'll compete against each other as representatives of these clubs, that is, whenever a competitive event is held. Members within a club first compete each other to decide the winners; these go to represent the club for inter-club competitions.
By the last quarter of 2000, teams would be set up for different sports from amongst the top performers in each club. These teams would compete against each in formal leagues, along the lines of NBA and other major club events worldwide. These players would also be trained by coaches.
Special training programmes are being set up for members to improve the level of performance. The first such initiative has been the setting up of a cricket academy at Modern School in Delhi. Clinics for basketball and football would be conducted in July-August this year.
The Sports ID card will also offer a host of privileges to members in the form of discounts and free gifts when they make purchases at select locations around the city.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.