First in Asia to be Player Escorts at UEFA Champions League

USA - English

• USA - English

SINGAPORE, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Five "Little Champions" from Singapore have recently marched onto the iconic Old Trafford football pitch for the UEFA Champions League fifth Group Stage match between Manchester United FC and Besiktas JK in Manchester. The roaring audience, bright stadium lights and exuberant atmosphere can be overwhelming for these young player escorts, yet giving them an experience they will remember for life. They are also the first from Asia to escort world-class players at this major event.

Undoubtedly, this must have been a "star kid" moment for every child on the field. This is made possible by the "Little Champions" programme, a joint promotion between MasterCard and Standard Chartered Bank where winners are picked based on the highest number of transactions on their SCB MasterCard credit cards.

More winners will be selected for other matches in the months ahead, right up to the Final in Madrid. Each child and accompanying adult will win a package for two including round-trip air tickets, 3 night accommodation and match tickets. The highlight would be the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the child to be a player escort to world-class soccer players at the upcoming matches. Air tickets will be courtesy of Standard Chartered, and hotel stay, match tickets and player escort opportunity will be courtesy of MasterCard, Official Sponsor of the UEFA Champions League.

To be a player escort, the child must be aged between seven and nine, 1.1meters to 1.3meters tall and proficient in English. Standard Chartered MasterCard credit card holders have to register at http://www.standardchartered.com.sg/littlechampions from now till 31 March 2010 (inclusive) and charge a minimum of SGD300 each month to their card to participate in the programme. Customers who do not register but still spend the minimum amount within the promotional period will be eligible to win UEFA Champions League branded MasterCard premiums.

This is golden chance for both child and guardian to experience something they will never forget.

(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2010/01/07/20100107548537.html )

Note to Editors:

Standard Chartered in Singapore is part of an international banking group with an extensive network of over 1,600 branches and outlets in more than 70 countries in the Asia Pacific Region, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom and the Americas.

Standard Chartered has a history of 150 years in Singapore, opening its first branch here in 1859 and in October 1999 was among the first international banks to receive a Qualifying Full Bank (QFB) licence, an endorsement of the Group's long-standing commitment to its businesses in the country.

It serves both Consumer and Wholesale Banking customers. Consumer Banking provides credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, deposit taking and wealth management services to individuals and small to medium sized enterprises. Wholesale Banking provides corporate and institutional clients with services in trade finance, cash management, lending, securities services, foreign exchange, debt capital markets and corporate finance.

The Bank employs over 5,500 people in Singapore and has a network of 18 branches, 27 ATMs, and 6 Priority Banking centres. Standard Chartered is the only international bank to offer NETS service, giving its customers access to EFTPOS at over 17,000 outlets islandwide. The Bank's global businesses - Consumer and Wholesale Banking - are managed out of Singapore, as is its global Technology & Operations function.

About MasterCard Worldwide

MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 21 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the Mastercard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including Mastercard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R), MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to http://www.mastercard.com

    For further information, please contact:

     Rena Teng
     Corporate Affairs, Singapore
     Standard Chartered Bank
     Tel:   +65-6331-4182
     HP:    +65-9848-8573
     Email: [email protected]

     Priyia Paramajothi
     Weber Shandwick
     Tel:   +65-6825-8064
     Email: [email protected]

     Kara-Mae Lim
     Mastercard Worldwide
     Tel:   +65-6390-5962
     Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Standard Chartered Bank