Deloitte pledges $5m to SEA Games

The halfway mark has been surpassed and, with 10 months to go before the big event, the Singapore South-east Asia Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) is confident of reaching its target of securing $50 million in cash and kind sponsorships.

At a signing ceremony yesterday at the Black Box at the Singapore Sports Hub, Singsoc unveiled Deloitte as the official professional services partner for next year's SEA Games.

Deloitte - a brand which provides services such as auditing, financial advisory, risk management and related services - also pledged over $5 million in cash and value-in-kind services for Singsoc, becoming the third Tier One (minimum sum of $5 million) sponsor for the Games.

Two months ago, SingTel pledged $15 million in next-generation multi-media solutions and technological infrastructure, making it the largest sponsor of the Games.

Before that, NTUC FairPrice and FairPrice Foundation came on board with a combined $5 million sponsorship.

The three big-ticket sponsorships take the total amount secured to over $25 million, and Singsoc exco chairman Lim Teck Yin said: "Right now, we are working through arrangements with some other sponsors and, in the months to come, you'll see more signing ceremonies. We're quite confident we'll reach our target.

APPRECIATIVE

"We're very appreciative of companies that have come forward early to confirm their partnerships with us, and I think it gives them more time to co-brand and activate their sponsorships."

Next year's SEA Games, from June 5 to 16, will be held in conjunction with Singapore's Golden Jubilee.

Lim added that Singsoc was delighted to secure the services of Deloitte, who has previously supported the 2012 London Olympics and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, as well as the 2010 Youth Olympic Games here.

"Their experience in these matters is really treasured by us," he said.

Deloitte Singapore chairman and South-east Asia chief executive Chaly Mah said: "We hope that through our expertise, Deloitte will help further raise the bar and further boost international recognition of Singapore's hosting of this event."

Deloitte also provides employment opportunities to several national athletes, such as shuttler and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Derek Wong, under the Sports Excellence Career (spexCareer) scheme.

Mah says his organisation decided to throw its weight behind next year's SEA Games as a show of its commitment to local sports and athletes.

He said: "As an organisation, we always believe in supporting young athletes.

"It's not just us helping Singsoc, it's also important for us to send a message to all the young people who we hire.

"I hope this will spur other organisations to join the support for sporting events in Singapore because, if you compare us to some other countries, we have some catching up to do."

Right now, we are working through arrangements with some other sponsors and, in the months to come, you'll see more signing ceremonies. We're quite confident we'll reach our target.

- Singsoc exco chairman Lim Teck Yin

msazali@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 08, 2014.
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