Standard Chartered partners Abu Dhabi Golf Championship for 3rd successive year

In addition to its platinum sponsorship of one of the UAE's largest sporting events, for the second year running the Bank will also hold the hugely successful Standard Chartered Schools Golf Clinics programme in the lead up to the championships.

Six secondary schools and colleges from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have been selected to participate in the programme, which enables ten students from each school the opportunity to 'study' with a local golf professional at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, home to the Championship which runs from January 17th to 20th 2008.

"We are dedicated to our presence in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and are committed to contributing back to the communities we live and work in," said Jeremy Parrish, CEO Standard Chartered, Abu Dhabi & Al Ain.

"Our continued partnership with the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships assists in promoting the event both nationally and internationally, and our ambition with the School Golf Clinics programme is to really get involved in developing golf in the UAE at the grassroots level. We are immensely proud of the success of the programme to date, which is aimed at encouraging future golf champions of the UAE to realise their aspirations and dreams."

The two most promising students from each school clinic will be invited to attend an exclusive one-hour golf clinic with a visiting international golf pro during the 2008 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Standard Chartered is working closely again with the Championship owners, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, to bring innovative golf-themed activities to the emirate's residents in the run up to the event. The Standard Chartered Golf Zone will once again be hosted in the city's Marina Mall in the seven days before the Championship.

Golf pros from the Abu Dhabi Golf Club will man the zone, which allows residents and visitors to step up and 'take a swing' at indoor golfing nets. The pros are on hand to provide tips and advice to improve golfing practice, and each swing is also video recorded on a Nokia mobile handset and then emailed to participants.

"The free ten-minute golf lessons and email video tips were a resounding success last year," continued Parrish, "and really helped everyone in the emirate get into the swing of the lead up to the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships."

"In fact, it was such a success that we emulated the Golf Zone at the actual event itself, and we were impressed by the number of attendees who lined-up to take advantage of the opportunity to receive golfing tips from the top. We'll definitely be doing this again for the 2008 Championship."

The UAE capital is a key growth area for Standard Chartered and actively demonstrating its commitment to the region, Standard Chartered has implemented major development strategies in the UAE capital. The five-year deal for platinum sponsorship of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship also ensures the Bank continues to participate in raising the profile of the UAE internationally.