Image credits: Singtel
One of the largest telecommunication companies in SEA, Singapore-based Singtel have just announced that they will sponsor Singapore's esports team for the upcoming SEA Games 2019. Under this sponsorship, the esports players representing Singapore will receive financial support for training exercises along with study stipends.
Although Singtel did not disclose how much the sponsorships are worth, Singapore based News website - Straits Times estimates the sponsorship amount to be a five-figure sum.
Singtel will be partnering with the Singapore Esports Association to provide sponsorship for Singapore’s first SEA Games esports team#SingtelxPVP #esports #PVPESPORTS #SEAgames
— Singtel Newsroom (@SingtelNews) March 13, 2019
The 2019 SEA Games will take place from 30th November 2019 to 11th December 2019, all across the Philippines including cities like Manila, Clark, Subic, Batangas, La Union, and Tagaytay.
Six games including Dota 2, Starcraft 2, Tekken 7, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Arena of Valor will also be played at the event. The 6th and final esports title is still being evaluated and will be revealed shortly.
The telecom giant also announced the pickup of 3 new Ambassadors for its esports wing: PVP. Former Street Fighter world champion Ho Kun ”Xian” Xian, Team Resurgence and all-women team Asterisk.
Team Resurgence currently hosts teams/players in esports like League of Legends, Arena of Valour, Hearthstone, Mobile Legends, Starcraft II, PUBG and Fortnite while Asterisk hosts two all-women rosters in Dota 2 and League of Legends.
The event was also presided by Senior Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chee Hong Tat who said: “E-sports is not just for fun, it's actually serious business. We can grow a whole industry cluster around e-sports and different segments of the economy and workforce can get involved"
"It's important to equip our workers with the (relevant) skills, and for our institutes of higher learning and companies to come together to work out training programmes for both students and people in the workforce." He added.
Gfreak’s thoughts: With these investments and increasing support for esports from elected representatives of the state, Singapore is firmly in the driver’s seat to develop a massive esports industry. We can only hope that other countries from our region take note of this welcome move and try to implement the same in their own countries (as opposed to campaigning to ban certain esports titles) and help push esports into the forefront of the entertainment industry.