Yonex promises striking new SEA Games look

SINGAPORE – The nation’s athletes and officials can expect to be smartly attired when the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games return to the Republic in June after a 22-year hiatus.

That is the pledge after Sunrise & Company, distributor for sports apparel brand Yonex, inked an agreement yesterday to extend its 42-year partnership with the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC).

The six-year extension, worth S$5 million in kind, will see Team Singapore athletes don Yonex-brand apparel from June’s SEA Games to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“Yonex has created a new striking design for the 2015 SEA Games contingent, which will still include elements of the nation’s identity, such as the national colours and Singapore flag,” said SNOC secretary-general Chris Chan.

In addition to track suits, Sunrise will also supply Team Singapore athletes and officials with various gear, from luggage and water bottles to outer wear for aquatic sports.

Design revisions have been implemented every two years since the partnership began with the 1973 Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games, when Yonex provided 450 track suits for participating athletes and officials.

Each revision follows feedback from the SNOC, representatives from the SNOC Athletes’ Commission and the Yonex-Sunrise team, with a separate cut for male and female athletes since the early 2000s when track suits started featuring a slim-fit style.

“We usually adopt a new design every Games cycle (every two years) and explore new and different materials and styles available,” said Chan.

“Track suits used to be baggier and heavier than current styles. For example, the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games track suits carried a slim-fit cutting. They have received favourable comments and are also of a lighter weight as we now have newer and more advanced materials in the market to use.”

When queried about the longevity of the partnership with Yonex, the SNOC said there had been interest from other brands, but they were unable to produce sufficient apparel for the Singapore contingent.

At the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar, Yonex provided apparel for 461 athletes and officials.

“I remembered there were two occasions (when) we opened up and allowed other brands to bid to sponsor our apparel. Many were interested but, when we gave them the quantity we needed, they found it difficult to meet it,” said Chan.

Looking ahead to June’s SEA Games, Chan did not dismiss the possibility of Team Singapore hitting 50 gold medals to match what the nation’s athletes won the last time the biennial Games were hosted here.

“The mood now is that everyone is optimistic. Athletes are going with a bit of fire (and) that’s important. We’re on home ground so, with the little rah rah behind, anything is possible.”