International Sports Academy in Nicaragua Local partner Vargas Loaiza Fontalvo Y Compania Limitada, in Nicaragua known as Grand Slam C.A., is founded in 2008 and organises sport events and creates marketing and PR activities around these events. The sponsorship packages are sold to companies.The applicant, WM Sport Limitada from Colombia was founded in 2006 and is involved in similar activities in Colombia. Customers are companies whose brand is affiliated with the sports events.The partners together professionalised the tennis sport in Nicaragua and are now looking for ways to diversify their businesses within the sport sector successfully.Every year, thousands of Latin American children and adolescents are sent to sports academies in the United States for sports camps and training. The partners have identified the business opportunity to establish a similar sports academy in Nicaragua that offers high quality sports trainings and lodging at lower cost and in Spanish. For this purpose they will set up an International Sports Academy in Managua, Nicaragua with an annual capacity of 2,400 sports packages (a package is defined as 1 week full-time training programme including accommodation).The project will create 66 full-time jobs in Nicaragua, of which the majority has a medium- and high-skilled profile. An intensive training programme will be put in place, where well known (foreign) trainers from the USA will 'train the trainer'.A joint venture will be set up.The project will establish the first international sports academy in Central America based on the examples of famous American-based academies. The academy will offer young international athletes complete and intense full-time training packages in different sports (tennis, soccer, basketball) disciplines.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)Employees will receive a salary that is more than the legal minimum. Partners will make the sports facilities available for sports events organised by local sports clubs and schools. Furthermore, the partners will grant 20 scholarships yearly and they will look for companies that are willing to offer scholarships to students who cannot afford the fee.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsStaff will get long-term contracts and a training to improve their skills. Furthermore, employees will get the opportunity to follow further training and to attend seminars. Salaries will be above the legal minimum.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeIt is a complete new activity for Nicaragua. Furthermore, the product becomes available to a new target group, because the price the Academy will ask is lower than the price that has to be paid in the USA. The project will have a positive effect on the sports sector.•	Chain effectsThree local suppliers will be structural involved in the joint venture to supply food and beverages and training materials.Customers, both in Nicaragua and in other Latin American countries will benefit from the project. It will increase the availability of affordable Spanish-language sports camps and training. However, it is assumed that mainly students from outside Nicaragua will attend the Academy. The joint venture will establish scholarships for Nicaraguan students that do not possess the financial means to participate.•	Impact on the sectorThe joint venture will contribute to the promotion of sports in Nicaragua by building partnerships with sports clubs and associations, for example in organising special events and tournaments. Also, companies will be involved, as sponsors for the scholarship programme.•	Position of women60% of all employees will be women. On medium-/high-level 50% will be female employees. To establish the first Central American International Sports Academy with a capacity of 58 students per week, where young prospective athletes of the age of 8 to 18 from different Latin American countries are accommodated and trained.