The scheme, which encourages small and medium enterprises (SME’s) to sign up to become an "Official Friend of the England Team" for Delhi 2010 has been enthusiastically supported by business and public-sector leaders following a rousing speech by Commonwealth Games England president Dame Kelly Holmes at the Institute of Directors (IoD) Annual Convention at the end of last month.

The membership, which is limited to the first 100 companies that sign up, requests a minimum of £5,000 ($7,155) from organisations with fewer than 500 employees and a minimum of £10,000 ($14,311) for organisations with 500 or more employees.

In return, the companies receive a range of exclusive benefits including updates from the team, invitations to events and the right to use the "Official Friend" logo on company website, letterhead and employee communications.

Duncan Lewis, the marketing director for CGE,  said: "The response has proved that there are businesses across the country, spanning many different backgrounds and sizes, who are keen to show their support for English sport and to harness the enthusiasm of their staff by getting them engaged."

With competition between over 8,000 athletes from 71 nations, who together represent 25 per cent of the world’s population, the Delhi Games promise to deliver a feast of top-class sport that will be vital in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics.

For more details and to become an "Official Friend" of the England Team click here or contact the CGE commercial department at [email protected].


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