SINGAPORE AQUATICS ANNOUNCES MAZDA PARTNERSHIP AHEAD OF SWIMMING WORLD CUP
Athletes and officials taking part in October’s World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Singapore will be able to travel in style after Singapore Aquatics (SAQ) and Trans Eurokars – Mazda inked a deal for Mazda to be the event car for the event.
At a signing ceremony at the Mazda showroom in Ubi today, Mazda was unveiled as SAQ’s Official Car Partner until 2026. The Mazda MX-30, the carmaker’s first all-electric compact crossover, will play a starring role in the two-year partnership. Twenty-five Mazda vehicles, including the MX-30s, will be used to ferry athletes and officials during the 2024 Swimming World Cup. The MX-30 will also be loaned to SAQ for the duration of the partnership. Two vehicles will be made available to SAQ as it goes about its work to promote aquatics in Singapore.
Assoc. Prof Kennth Goh, Secretary General, Singapore Aquatics (left) and Chong Kah Wei, Managing Director, Trans Eurokars – Mazda, at the signing ceremony earlier today
Photo credit: Singapore Aquatics
Said Mr Chong Kah Wei, Trans Eurokars – Mazda Managing Director: “I am pleased that our partnership with Singapore Aquatics provides an opportunity for us to contribute towards the continuous development of a highly popular sport locally. We believe in doing our part for society and with this support, we hope to inspire all swimmers to pursue their dreams.
“The discipline required in swimming is similar to Mazda’s brand philosophy of embracing challenges and being focused on consistent improvements. Our artisans spend years improving their craft to create all these beautiful Mazda models that we have today. This is achieved because they never stop trying to challenge themselves to do better.
“We look forward to supporting our swimming athletes in their journey to success.”
The two-year partnership is not the first time Mazda has stepped up to support aquatics in Singapore. Trans Eurokars – Mazda sponsored a car for a hole-in-one competition at SAQ’s fundraiser this year and also donated $25,000 at SAQ’s 85th Anniversary gala dinner.
SAQ Secretary General, Assoc. Prof Kenneth Goh, said that the Mazda partnership will elevate the prestige of both SAQ and the Swimming World Cup.
Said Prof Goh: “Being associated with a global brand like Mazda is an honour for us and the event. It speaks volumes of the appeal of aquatics and the positive impact it can have for Mazda, our aquatics disciplines, and the general public.
“Having the MX-30 as part of our partnership is also timely as SAQ is ramping up our advocacy for water sustainability as part of our plans to host the World Aquatics Championships in 2025.”
Twenty-five Mazda vehicles, including the MX-30s, will be used to ferry athletes and officials during the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup
Photo credit:Trans Eurokars – Mazda
The Mazda vehicles used by SAQ will come in a special decal complete with the SAQ logo.
The car will come in handy as SAQ expands its outreach to work more closely with partners across the island to elevate the sport.
Said national head coach Gary Tan: “With Mazda on board as SAQ’s Official Car Partner, it gives our high-performance team greater mobility to engage clubs and partners across the island and discuss ways in which we can uplift aquatics in Singapore.”
Home favourites for foreign stars set for World Cup
Singapore’s hosting of the Swimming World Cup will mark a return of the event which the Republic last hosted in 2019.
The 2019 event featured some of the world’s best swimmers such as Russia’s Vladimir Morozov, Australia’s Emily Seebohm and Singapore’s own Olympic champion Joseph Schooling.
The 2024 edition is set to again feature some of the sport’s biggest names – among them Singapore’s Asian Games men’s 50 metre butterfly silver medallist Teong Tzen Wei.
The Singapore event will be the last of three legs of the Swimming World Cup – Shanghai, China from October 18 to 20, Incheon, South Korea from October 24 to 26 and Singapore from October 31 to November 2. The World Cup will also serve as the qualifying meets for the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest in December 2024.
Said Teong, who has won two World Cup silvers and competed at the 2019 edition on home soil: “It’s great to have the event back in Singapore.
“It’s a treat not just for the fans but also our local swimmers who get to test ourselves against the world’s best in front of our home fans.”
One young swimmer who will be relishing the opportunity to make a name for himself on home soil is 20-year-old Chan Jun Hao.
The breaststroke specialist broke the men’s national 50m breaststroke record in June and is eager to build on his achievement.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to the event. I feel the short course meet will be an exciting one to gauge where I stand about the best sprinters.”
