SINGAPORE - Health and fitness group Fitness First and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) announced on Monday a three-year, $1.3 million (in kind) sponsorship to support Team Singapore athletes in the lead-up to major sporting meets from 2016 through 2018, including next year's Olympics and the 2017 SEA Games.

The partnership will see Fitness First provide 200 international memberships to Team Singapore athletes training for major Games. Athletes holding the memberships can access the group's clubs in 16 countries, which number over 300, as well as the 16 clubs in Singapore.

SNOC will select the athletes after consulting local national sports associations, having already reached out to 28 of them. The memberships are renewable annually.

SNOC secretary general Chris Chan said: "We are confident Fitness First's network of clubs islandwide and excellent training facilities will complement the current range of facilities and training programmes provided to our athletes."

Simon Flint, Fitness First Asia's chief executive officer, said: "With this partnership with the SNOC, we are increasing our commitment to developing Singapore's talent as well as growing the nation's fitness and sporting culture. We are proud to be part of our athletes' journey."