National athlete sponsorship and student engagement programme to build champion competitors and champion supporters for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games

Singapore, 23 June 2010 – Inspiring youth to dream big as athletes and as sports fans is the theme of Singtel’s sponsorship programme for Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), officially announced today. The “Singtel Inspires” Programme, created in partnership with the Singapore National Olympic Committee (SNOC), includes  support of young athletes from the national swimming, sailing and football teams, as well as a schools’ engagement programme designed to connect students with national athletes and build a champion supporters’ spirit for the world’s first Youth Olympic Games.

Singtel, Singapore’s leading multimedia services provider, will run the “Singtel Inspires” programme from 28 June to 26 July 2010 in selected primary schools and secondary schools islandwide. Under this programme, students will get to meet young national athletes, have a chance to be a part of the “Longest Wave” competition and to enter the “Singtel Inspires Dreams” contest.

“We are honoured to be an integral part of the world’s first Youth Olympic Games that is being held in Singapore. Our support of the national swimming, sailing and football teams participating in the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games has been ongoing since May, and includes providing assistance and financial support for the young athletes as they train,” said Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Executive Vice President, Consumer Business Group, Singtel.

He added, “The “Singtel Inspires” programme aims to give our young athletes the huge emotional advantage that comes from being the home team with the full support of their peers behind them. It focuses on enabling and inspiring young athletes to realise their sporting dreams – and sows the seeds of inspiration in schools so that more young athletes will emulate their success. More importantly, we hope to continue building on the “Singtel Inspires” programme to encourage our nation’s youths towards sporting excellence even after the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.”

The “Singtel Inspires” programme comprises:

• “Longest Wave” competition*: Students will each record a digital “Kallang wave[1]”, and schools will compile the waves of all their students as they compete to create the longest digital wave as a mark of support for Singapore’s YOG athletes. These will be uploaded online at (www.singtel.com/youth) and the winning school with the longest wave will get to re-enact their wave at Singtel’s live screening of the Opening Ceremony of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

• “Be Inspired” workshops: Singapore’s YOG athletes from these sports - sailing, swimming, football, basketball, triathlon and cycling - along with Singtel representatives will visit 18 local primary and secondary schools around the island. This series of workshops will give students the opportunity to hear and be inspired by the sporting journeys of some of Singapore’s young sporting heroes.

• “Singtel Inspires Dreams” contest*: Schools are to submit selected student entries to the question ‘What is your biggest sporting dream?’ and an overall answer for ‘How would you use the S$10,000 prize money from Singtel to fulfil your dream?’. The most inspirational write-ups will win the school a cash prize of S$10,000 to develop their sports programmes.

*For more details, please refer to accompanying factsheet

“My team is extremely excited to be given the opportunity to share our experiences with youths in Singapore,” said Ms Amanda Lim, Singapore YOG swimming representative. “It is not often that athletes get to share their sporting journey with others, let alone a whole group of people who are around our age! Knowing that students across the island are coming up with “waves” to support us makes me really happy and even more determined to do my best at the Games. I hope these workshops and the “Singtel Inspires Dreams” contest will allow students to pursue their sporting dreams, like I did.”

In addition to its role as official multimedia services provider for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Singtel has developed special services for the Games such as 3D navigational maps, social multicultural chat platforms and a 3D TV experience of our Singapore YOG athletes’ experiences. The “Singtel Inspires” Programme is an additional initiative by Singtel in support of the Games, demonstrating its commitment to inspire and build a nation of future sporting champions.

“We are delighted to partner Singtel in this innovative initiative, and it is truly inspiring to see them stepping in to support young athletes at the very start of their sporting careers, and enabling them to dream big. We believe that for these athletes, knowing that their nation is behind them and seeing the Singtel student waves of support inspires them to do their best at the Games and could make the winning difference. It also brings alive the Olympic values of Friendship, Respect and Excellence,” said Mr Chris Chan, Secretary General, Singapore National Olympic Council.

Principal Ms Azizah Ismaun of Jing Shan Primary School, said, "Sports has always been a universal language that binds us together across the borders.  The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games is a platform to inspire our youths not only to excel in sports, but to build positive relationships beyond our individual nations.  The “Singtel Inspires” programme is especially meaningful for the primary school pupils, who are not in the age group to be in the competition, but are able to be part of the excitement by hearing the story of young athletes and supporting their national team.  The learning opportunities are definitely beyond their textbooks and exams."

About Singtel

Singtel is Asia's leading communications group with operations and investments around the world. Serving both the corporate and consumer markets, it is committed to bringing the best global communications solutions to customers in the Asia Pacific and beyond. 

With significant operations in Singapore and Australia (through wholly-owned subsidiary Singtel Optus), the Group provides a comprehensive portfolio of services that includes voice and data solutions over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms, as well as infocomm technology and pay TV.

To serve the needs of multi-national corporations, Singtel has a network of 37 offices in 20 countries and territories throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States. These offices enable Singtel to deliver reliable and quality network solutions to its customers, either on its own or jointly with local partners.

The Group also has major investments in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. Together with its regional partners, Singtel is Asia’s largest multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 293 million customers in eight markets.

Singtel employs more than 23,000 people worldwide and had a turnover of S$16.87 billion (US$11.82 billion) and net profit after tax of S$3.91 billion (US$2.74 billion) for the year ended 31 March 2010.  More information can be found @ www.singtel.com and www.optus.com.au. 

About Singapore National Olympic Council

Through its ties with the International Olympic Committee, the Singapore National Olympic Council works to educate Singaporean athletes and the country’s many sports bodies on the real benefits of the Olympic sports model. In an age when athletes are under increasing pressure to win at any cost, the Olympic philosophy is more than mere rhetoric. The Olympic Movement reminds all stakeholders that sports must be governed by fair play and equal opportunity.

The SNOC provides leadership and financial support to athletes and local associations who are committed to sports excellence and the Olympic values. Every year the Council recognizes the achievements of Singaporean athletes and coaches through the Singapore Sports Awards. The tradition was launched in 1967 by then-SNOC President Othman Wok, who was Singapore’s Minister of Social Affairs.

The SNOC sets the qualifying standards for local athletes preparing for international games, and also coordinates programs to assist athletes financially. The Multi-Million Dollar Awards Program (MAP), rewards medallists at the Olympic, Commonwealth, Asian & South East Asian Games. The new Project 0812 program specifically funds a select group of elite athletes preparing for the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

For more information, please visit www.snoc.org.sg

[1] The “Kallang Wave” is a famous Singapore wave of support, typically done among crowds at national sporting events.