IOC & Visa Extend Current Partnership

LAUSANNE: Through an extension of its existing sponsorship deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Visa will continue as the exclusive payment card and the official payment system for the Olympic Games through to 2020.

The announcement was made at a signing ceremony held today in Moscow, Russia. The extension covers the XXII Olympic Winter Games (2014) in Sochi, Russia; the Games of the XXXI Olympiad (2016) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (2018); and the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (2020). The credit-card company was a founding member of the global Olympic partnership program in 1986.

IOC’s president, Jacques Rogge, said: "Our partnership with Visa demonstrates a shared commitment to the future of youth and sport, to the future of the Olympic Games and to the strengthening of the Olympic ideals and values we respect. On behalf of the IOC, the 205 National Olympic Committees around the world, and the athletes themselves, I would like to thank Visa, its clients and partners for their commitment through to the 2020 Olympic Games."

Gerhard Heiberg, the chairman of the IOC marketing commission, commented: "The staging of the Olympic Games, as well as the operations of the Olympic Movement as a whole, would not be possible without the support of our TOP Partners, and we are delighted that Visa will continue to be a key partner for the Olympic Movement. As an organization, Visa is a leader not only in the world of global payment technology, but also in its support for sports events and athletes around the world."    

Joseph Saunders, the CEO and president of Visa, added: "The Olympic Games transcend political and geographical boundaries to deliver incomparable international exposure and broad-based audience interest appealing to virtually every demographic. They stand as one of the premier sporting and cultural events in the world and we are delighted to extend our sponsorship through to 2020."