Mastercard comes on board as sponsor of 30th Southeast Asian Games, Para Games
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE growing number of private sector supporters of the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games later this year has added a major player with Mastercard coming on board as a gold sponsor.
In signing ceremonies held at Samba at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City on Monday, officials of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), led by Director of Support and Operations Jojit Alcazar, welcomed Mastercard as a valuable partner of the SEA Games, happening from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, and the 10th Para Games next year.
Also present at the signing ceremonies were Mastercard Philippines Country Manager Rowell Del Fierro, and Mediapro Asia Managing Director Lars Heidenreich.
The sponsorship of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, Mr. Del Fierro said, affirms Mastercard’s commitment to support the cash-lite agenda of the Central Bank as it has pledged to power the official mobile app of the regional multisport events.
The bespoke platform will be a one-stop source of information for spectators, athletes, and officials during the Games. It will include details on game schedules, score tallies and medal tables, and news related to the event.
Also, as a technology network powering smart and secure payments, Mastercard will also enable convenient and secure online and offline purchases like event tickets and food at the venues through a payment card stored in the mobile app.
Mastercard is not new to sponsoring major sporting events as most recently it was part of the Asian Games in Jakarta last year.
“As the appointed sponsorship agent for the SEA Games, we are excited to announce Mastercard as an exclusive category sponsor, joining other partners who are also leaders in their respective categories to support this Philippines milestone Games and most important sporting event across Southeast Asia in 2019,” Mr. Heidenreich, for his part, said.
For Mr. Alcazar, the involvement of Mastercard in the Games is a huge development since their group recognize the significant role that the private sector plays in the Philippines’ successful hosting duties.
“We are happy and proud to have a brand like Mastercard be part of the SEA Games family. They have a proven record in events like this and their expertise will enhance the Games experience further,” said Mr. Alcazar said.
The PHISGOC official went on to say that the Games are continuing to gain interest for sponsorships and they are set to sign more partnerships in the days to come.
The 2019 SEA Games is touted to be the biggest to be staged in the Philippines, involving 11,000 athletes and officials from the 11 member nations, 9,000 volunteers, 530 events and 56 sports.
Forty-four venues have been short-listed for the event scattered in different parts of the country, including the world-class facilities at New Clark City in Tarlac.
The last time the country hosted the SEA Games was in 2005.
