Satyam bags FIFA contracts for 2010, 2014 World Cups

BIG JUMP: Satyam is one of the four FIFA World Cup sponsors announced for the 2010 event.

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New Delhi: Great time ahead for Satyam Computer. The firm on Saturday became the first Indian company to sign up as sponsor and official information technology (IT) services provider for the next two editions of the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2014.

"It is a great day because for the first time in the history of FIFA that we have an Indian company supporting the event," PTI quoted FIFA President Joseph S Blatter as saying.

Satyam is one of the four Federation Internationale De Football Association (FIFA) World Cup sponsors announced for the 2010 event to be held in South Africa and is the only sponsor in the IT services category.

However, the other three sponsors include African telecom company MTN, American lager company Budweiser and American fast food giant McDonald's.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup would be held in Brazil. For 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, Satyam would develop the core IT event management system.

"The FIFA World Cups would give us an opportunity to establish our brand at a global level and take it to another level," PTI quoted Satyam Founder and Chairman B Ramalinga Raju as saying.

However, both FIFA and Satyam refused to disclose the size of the deal.

"We are thrilled about the tie-up with the FIFA World Cup. This is one event that seems to be the most watched sports event far ahead of Olympics. Estimates show that the cumulative FIFA World Cup 2006 viewership at 26 billion," Raju said.

(with inputs form PTI)