Celcom Axiata to sponsor BAM until 2020 Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR: Celcom Axiata Berhad will be extending its contract as the main sponsor of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The exclusive sponsorship valid for 15 months from June 4, 2019 till Aug 31, 2020 involves an additional expenditure of RM10 million, bringing the overall total to RM34 million.
The extension of the sponsorship arrangement is part of the continued commitment by Celcom Axiata in supporting the national badminton body in the agenda to develop talent in the sport.
BAM president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said BAM was very happy to continue its collaboration with Celcom Axiata after much success in the first year.
“Celcom (Axiata) has become part of our badminton family. We would like to heighten our cooperation to advance badminton at the elite and grassroot level.
“We are also hoping this collaboration will further boost our development and act as a catalyst to bring back Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games,” he said at the ceremony for the signing of a memorandum for the extension of the sponsorship contract at the Sime Darby Convention Centre here today.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also the patron of BAM.
Meanwhile, Celcom Axiata Berhad chairman Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim said the company was proud to be the main sponsor of BAM in the effort to develop badminton in Malaysia.
“Sports, especially badminton, is one of the ways to unite Malaysians irrespective of race, religion or background,” he said.
Celcom Axiata and Kumpulan Axiata achieved a record in supporting the badminton arena in Malaysia, starting with the organising of the Axiata Cup from 2012-2014 and Celcom Axiata Malaysian Open.
Celcom Axiata first signed the main sponsorship agreement worth RM24 million with BAM in March 2016 for a three-year period. — Bernama