KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank are set to be the new multi-million cash dispensers for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in a bid to further raise the profile of the popular sport in the country.
It is learnt that the financial institution, who have come in strongly to back many other sports in the country over the past years, are on the verge of signing on the dotted lines as another prominent sponsors of the BAM.
Currently, Proton are the BAM’s biggest main players as far as funding is concerned.
Maybank are expected to sign a deal worth RM10mil with the BAM in a partnership over a few years and the move is seen as a timely boost ahead of the national players’ preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.
With the huge financial boost, the BAM are expected to strengthen their elite and back-up programmes.
Some of the BAM’s plans, which were shelved due to financial constraints – among them increasing the monthly allowances of the players, introduction of incentive bonus for the coaches and improving on the facilities at their training centre – are expected to get moving again.
The bulk of the money, however, will go into reviving the state programmes and increasing the interest in the game at the grass roots level.
There will be more tournaments at the lower level to increase the pool of young badminton enthusiasts.
Yesterday, one of the BAM’s council members confirmed that negotiations had taken place between the two parties.
“Having new partners will be a great boost for the BAM. Discussions have taken place on how the new sponsors will co-exist with the existing one (Proton),” said the source.
The BAM are expected to finalise matters during their exco meeting on Oct 28.
And an official announcement is expected to be made during the BAM’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Langkawi in December.
During the AGM, the BAM will also accept a proposal to amend their constitution to have two deputy presidents instead of one.
One deputy president will be elected from within the council while the other may come from outside the fold. And the talk now is for the second number two office bearer in the BAM to come from Maybank.
For the record, Maybank have been the title sponsors for the Malaysian Open golf championships for several years.
They have also been prominent in the development of sports in the country, especially athletics. And this is seen in their active participation in inter-bank competitions and many other grass roots programmes.
It is learnt that the financial institution, who have come in strongly to back many other sports in the country over the past years, are on the verge of signing on the dotted lines as another prominent sponsors of the BAM.
Currently, Proton are the BAM’s biggest main players as far as funding is concerned.
Maybank are expected to sign a deal worth RM10mil with the BAM in a partnership over a few years and the move is seen as a timely boost ahead of the national players’ preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.
With the huge financial boost, the BAM are expected to strengthen their elite and back-up programmes.
Some of the BAM’s plans, which were shelved due to financial constraints – among them increasing the monthly allowances of the players, introduction of incentive bonus for the coaches and improving on the facilities at their training centre – are expected to get moving again.
The bulk of the money, however, will go into reviving the state programmes and increasing the interest in the game at the grass roots level.
There will be more tournaments at the lower level to increase the pool of young badminton enthusiasts.
Yesterday, one of the BAM’s council members confirmed that negotiations had taken place between the two parties.
“Having new partners will be a great boost for the BAM. Discussions have taken place on how the new sponsors will co-exist with the existing one (Proton),” said the source.
The BAM are expected to finalise matters during their exco meeting on Oct 28.
And an official announcement is expected to be made during the BAM’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Langkawi in December.
During the AGM, the BAM will also accept a proposal to amend their constitution to have two deputy presidents instead of one.
One deputy president will be elected from within the council while the other may come from outside the fold. And the talk now is for the second number two office bearer in the BAM to come from Maybank.
For the record, Maybank have been the title sponsors for the Malaysian Open golf championships for several years.
They have also been prominent in the development of sports in the country, especially athletics. And this is seen in their active participation in inter-bank competitions and many other grass roots programmes.
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