By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
WITH less than two months away from the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, organizers expressed confidence in holding a successful staging of the biennial regional sporting meet with added support coming from the private sector.
Rallying behind the hosting in various capacities, the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) said the involvement of private companies already on board would go a long way even as it said that it is expecting more groups to come in to throw their support.
“The interest of the private sector to be part of the hosting has been great and we would like to thank the companies for supporting the Games. There are already many on board and we still are in the process of finalizing other partnerships in the coming weeks,” PHISGOC Director of Support and Operations Jojit Alcazar told reporters at the recent signing ceremony for Mastercard’s sponsorship of the SEA Games, happening in the country from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
Mastercard is the one of the latest groups to throw their hat in supporting the SEA Games.
It said its involvement affirms its commitment to support the cash-lite agenda of the Central Bank as it pledged to power the official mobile app of the regional multi-sport 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’s involvement was made possible through Mediapro Asia, one of the top sports marketing firms in Asia.
Mediapro also facilitated the SEA Games sponsorship of Skyworth which was made official in July.
As of this writing, on board as sponsors of the Games come from various industries, including Ajinomoto, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., MG Cars, Philippine Airlines, Skyworth and CooCaa.
Also part of the hosting are Milo, Pocari Sweat, North Luzon Expressway, Pinco and Razer, Asics, SM Lifestyle Inc., BMW, Molten, Mikasa, Chinabank and PNB.
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.
