THE Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) yesterday announced its official exhibition venue - the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC).

The venue is being sponsored by CEC to the tune of several million dollars, said CEC managing director Jimmy Lau, declining to give an exact amount.

CEC will be a tier 1 sponsor for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games and was among the first to commit.

SYOGOC chairman Ng Ser Miang said talks are taking place with other potential sponsors.

'Companies have been very generous,' he said. 'We should be finalising another few (sponsors) over the next month or so. Sponsors are still coming forward despite the downturn.'

CEC will be a one-stop logistics hub for the Games - not just a storage facility. Being near the airport is convenient for offloading of equipment.

Most of the items needed will arrive about three months before the Games start.

CEC will house all of the furniture, fixtures and equipment, besides being the IT factory for assembly and installation of software, and for system testing.

SYOGOC is looking for a logistics provider to help with execution.

About 100 people will be needed to operate the hub, which has 40,000 sq m of indoor space and 100,000 sq m of outdoor space.

SYOGOC's revenue target for domestic sponsorship is $50 million, and it is trying to attract SMEs for its 'supporter programme'.

'We're now looking at tier 2 and tier 3', Mr Ng said, encouraging companies interested in helping the Games to come forward.

This article was first published in The Business Times.