Mumbai: Indian consulting and IT service provider Satyam Computer Services Ltd. has announced that it has signed up as a FIFA World Cup Sponsor and Official Information Technology (IT) Services Provider to the FIFA World Cup.

According to a media release, the relationship will covers two event cycles, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and the 2014 edition in Brazil, with each cycle including the FIFA Confederation Cup tournament.

The announcement makes Satyam one of four FIFA World Cup sponsors for the 2010 event. The company is a sponsor in the IT services category.

According to B Ramalinga Raju, chairman and founder of Satyam, "Our sponsorship recognises the sport''''s universal appeal and its tradition of skill, speed, competitiveness and teamwork, attributes that reflect Satyam''''s own qualities. Over the last two decades, Satyam has become an established global company and this sponsorship will serve to further increase Satyam''''s global expansion and accelerate its growth."

 
"I am very proud that Satyam has chosen the FIFA World Cup for this historic move. Satyam''''s commitment is a testimony to the immense appeal of FIFA as a superior marketing platform for transporting a brand far and wide around the world. It is a big advantage for all those involved in the events to have such an experienced IT service partner on board," said FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter.

Adding further, he said "We look forward to working with such a dedicated partner who shares our ideals and mission to use football as a tool to develop the game, touch the world and to build a better future."

Each FIFA World Cup is the culmination of a two and a half year preliminary competition involving approximately 200 national teams. The 2006 FIFA World Cup broadcast more than 76,000 hours of coverage over 376 channels worldwide, cumulatively reaching more than 26 billion viewers, ostensibly more than any other sports event in the world.

"This sponsorship represents a long-term, strategic investment by Satyam in its brand and significantly strengthens Satyam''''s ability to reach markets across the globe and demonstrate our leading-edge technologies and practices," said Hari Thalapalli, head of global marketing and communications for Satyam. "We are pleased with the confidence that FIFA has placed in Satyam to deliver key, mission-critical business and technology services to the world''''s foremost sporting event," he said.

Satyam already has a business relationship with FIFA, and as the Official IT Services Provider to the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, the company will play a crucial role in developing the core IT event management system for FIFA and its Service Partner for IT, Accommodation and Hospitality, MATCH AG, as well as Local Organising Committees during the next seven years.