SIA takes the plunge with Oz swimmers

Low Li n Fh oong

linfhoong@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

This was made possible after Singapore’s national carrier signed a deal with Swimming Australia, which lasts until 2012.

According to British sports website

The deal has raised a few eyebrows in the sports fraternity, with athletes and officials wondering why Singapore’s national carrier has chosen to back the swimmers from Down Under, when the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) is one of the most successful national sports associations (NSA) in the country.

Singapore Swimming Association president Jeffrey Leow told MediaCorp that the association had explored a possible tie-up with SIA for the Fina/Arena Swim World Cup last year, but a deal never got off the ground.

Describing the decision as a “commercial reality” which NSAs face when dealing with most local companies, Mr Leow said: “We had some informal contact but nothing came out of it.”

National swimmer Zach Ong, who took home three gold medals at last year’s SEA Games said SIA’s partnership with Swimming Australia was “a bit ridiculous”.

“I learnt about it last month, from a swimmer, who saw the SIA billboards at a short course event in Australia. I’m pretty sure SIA can do more to help our athletes and reduce costs for associations like swimming,” said the 19-year-old.

However, Mr Nicholas Ionides, SIA’s vice-president of public affairs, told MediaCorp: “I am not aware of an approach last year by Singapore Swimming Association for sponsorship.

We have also checked with several other departments and they have no recollection of such an approach either.”

The SIA-Swimming Australia partnership, signed in March, will make the airline the preferred carrier for all international travel for the swim team, which won six gold medals and set four world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

SIA’s Mr Ionides said the agreement was a commercial one, not a sponsorship. “Swimming Australia approached us last year for such a partnership because of our extensive network,” he said yesterday. “The main elements provide for discounts related to targeted travel volume, similar to the corporate agreements that we have with many corporations around the world.”

According to Mr Ionides, there will be also be spillover benefits for Singapore’s swimmers. “A secondary objective for Swimming Australia is to use Singapore as a base and preferred destination for training their swimmers,” he said. Sports officials whom MediaCorp spoke to felt Singapore Inc could do more for local sports.

Singapore Table Tennis Association President Lee Bee Wah said:

“I have spoken to many companies and I find it very tough.”

Ms Annabel Pennefather, president of the Singapore Hockey Federation, said: “We federations hope SIA can be more forthcoming.

For NSAs, it would be nice if you arrive in a country on your own national carrier rather than another airline.”

SIA, however, said it does support local sport, pointing to free air tickets given to the Singapore Sports School as well as for the annual Singapore Sports Awards. SIA is also the official airline for next month’s inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

“We have also provided similar support in recent years to Singapore Disability Sports Council and Singapore National Paralympic Council,” said Mr Ionides.— Some of Australia’s top swimmers Leisel Jones, Stephanie Rice and Eamon Sullivan will be flying on Singapore Airlines (SIA) when they travel to international meets around the world.sportspromedia.com, the three-year partnership is worth US$600,000 ($819,000). SIA said the terms of the agreement were confidential.

Airlines’ partnership Down Under raises eyebrows in Singapore

I can tell u 1001 reasons to buy from TA, FA, investors sentiment, CNBC, Charlie Rose, Suzy Orman to Oprah but it's not important, what is is important is when u see limpeh is shouting to buy, u just go ahead and hoot, cos if u see limpeh's previous posts, i'm no shouter..