In its mission to creating healthier, longer and better lives, the AIA insurance company has continued its commitment to supporting the world of sports as shown in its 100th anniversary celebration in Shanghai, China.

The Shanghai stint on Wednesday was among the celebrations in all 18 Asia-Pacific markets. The yearlong festivity is interconnected by passing on a specially-designed baton — a nod to the Olympics tradition of the torch relay — to each country.

In China, the celebration was marked with the AIA China 100 Run Kick-Off Event in Shanghai. Over the course of August and November, 40,000 employees, agents, partners and local running communities in the country are expected to run in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Jiangsu and Guangdong.

The insurance company, which has just extended its shirt sponsorship deal with England’s top flight Tottenham Hotspur to 2027, also invited four of its players, including Asian star Son Heung-min of South Korea, to the Shanghai event for a charity challenge with local children.

After Shanghai, the baton will be relayed in Jakarta as Indonesia will also take part in the celebration on Aug. 25. Previously, the baton went to Vietnam, Cambodia, India, South Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore and New Zealand.

AIA Financial head of brand and communication Kathryn Parapak said Indonesia would carry on with the yearlong celebration by also infusing sports in the Jakarta event.

“We will use ‘100 Minutes of Football and Fun-lympics’ as our celebration theme in Jakarta.

“The activity will involve our employees, agents, partners and customers as well as our AIA centennial ambassadors, who include Indonesia’s national soccer team player Andritany Ardhiyasa and [celebrity] Darius Sinathrya,” Kathryn told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the Shanghai event.

Kathryn went on to say that the company also encouraged Andritany to join in a 100-kilometer virtual running challenge, where he would have to run 100 km as recorded in a running application as of Aug. 25.

AIA Indonesia will donate Rp 1 million (US$70) for each kilometer that Andritany completes.

“So, if he runs 100 km we will donate Rp 100 million to soccer-related social activities,” she added.

Andritany, the captain of Indonesia’s top-tier Persija Jakarta, said he was happy to take part in the 100th anniversary celebration and was trusted to be one of the event’s ambassadors.

The goalkeeper, who joined the Shanghai trip to receive the baton, said support from private companies was needed to develop Indonesian soccer.

“What Indonesia still needs is more soccer academies. I really hope AIA can jump onto the wagon one day and have an academy in Indonesia,” said the 27-year-old.

Andritany, who has 20 international caps with the national squad, said a good number of qualified academies in a country could help provide talents for the domestic leagues and national team.

“We really need to think ahead and focus on long-term soccer development by finding and grooming local talent, instead of relying on naturalization, which is a shortcut. I’m not saying that I’m against naturalization, but I think it could only be done if we desperately need it for the national squad,” he said.

Andritany expressed hope that more companies would follow AIA in developing Indonesian soccer.

Talking about soccer development, Kathryn said AIA Indonesia was looking into the prospect of furthering the partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Women in building Indonesia’s women’s national team.

AIA Indonesia’s women’s team came out as the winner in the premier edition of the women’s category in the annual AIA Championship in London in May. The victory led the Indonesian team to train together with the Spurs women.

Kathryn said if the partnership happened, it would be the first for the Spurs’ women to collaborate with a team from another country.

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