Visa Launches Olympic Mentors Scheme
London, 22 July 2003 — Visa EU today announced the launch of 'Team Visa' - an integrated national sponsorship programme across a number of markets in Europe that combines the popularity and appeal of famous Olympic
greats (‘Olympic Mentors’) with the positive influence they will have on the up and coming Olympic and Paralympic stars (Olympic 'Hopefuls'). This is an expansion of Visa’s commitment to the Olympic Movement, National Olympic
Committees and national teams, which has been an important factor in ensuring the continuance and success of the Olympic Games.
Across Europe, Visa, in partnership with its member banks, will be supporting a large group of Olympic 'Hopefuls' – those athletes with potential to get into their national teams for the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games or Paralympic Games - through direct financial contributions that can be used by the athletes to pay for their training and travelling expenses, as well as on-going advise and support from the Team Visa 'Mentors'.
Dr Steve Perry, Executive Vice President, Relationship Management and Marketing, Visa EU said, 'We are supporting Team Visa across Europe because the Olympics are all about having pride in your national team, about celebrating national differences and backing local heroes. It’s a way for Visa EU to take the investment in the future of the Olympics to a new level; to help and encourage young athletes to make the most of their opportunities; to empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things and to help the next generation of top athletes achieve their dreams.
Dr Perry continued, 'I am delighted to announce that Sir Steve Redgrave CBE is to be the Mentor for Team Visa in the UK. His Olympic achievements are simply outstanding and so he is exceptionally well placed to mentor, help and support the UK Team Visa Hopefuls.'
Sir Steve Redgrave, CBE and Mentor for Team Visa in the UK said, 'I am delighted to have been invited by Visa to be a part of this exciting Olympic initiative and to be able to pass on my hard earned experience to young athletes. The thing that hits you about the Olympic Games is their sheer magnitude – you may be a big player within your own sport, but when you turn up at the Games you quickly realise that you’re just one of 28 sports that are also having their
biggest event. It’s easy to get sidetracked from your goals.
'I’m also particularly pleased that Visa appreciates that there is no differentiation between the commitment, dedication, ability and inspiration needed to become a
Paralympic athlete as compared to an Olympic athlete. It is an important facet of Team Visa that the programme is open to both Olympic and Paralympic athlete alike'.
Team Visa in the UK consists of the following athletes:
Daniel Caines, Athletics 400m Sprinter – Ranked No.1 in Great Britain and No.3 in World IAAF rankings, with a personal best of 44.98 seconds
Leanda Cave, Triathlon – Ranked No.4 in the world, Leanda became the first ever British female triathlete to win the World Triathlon title in 2002
Nicole Cooke, Cycling – Britain’s top female cyclist and the first person ever to hold both World Road Race and Mountain Bike titles at the same time
Paul Goodison, Sailing Laser Class – 1st in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings, winning both world and European bronze medals in 2002
Richard Mantell, Hockey – Playing for the England U21 team, competing in two European Cups and a Junior World Cup, and has made seven appearances for the full England team since receiving his first cap in February 2003
Jonathan Pollock, Wheelchair Basketball – A key member of Great Britain’s World Championship Gold Cup tournament in 2002 where the team secured silver
There is a perfect synergy between Visa EU’s brand strategy of 'The Future Takes Visa' and supporting the Olympic Hopefuls through Team Visa – the up and coming athletes of the future. The Olympic Hopefuls are critical to the
integration of the Olympics within 'The Future Takes Visa' as they provide the perfect link between the brand strategy and Olympic values.
Visa International is a worldwide Olympic partner and the exclusive payment card of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Greece.
For more details contact:
Roz Barder
Visa EU
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7795 5336
barderr@visa.com
greats (‘Olympic Mentors’) with the positive influence they will have on the up and coming Olympic and Paralympic stars (Olympic 'Hopefuls'). This is an expansion of Visa’s commitment to the Olympic Movement, National Olympic
Committees and national teams, which has been an important factor in ensuring the continuance and success of the Olympic Games.
Across Europe, Visa, in partnership with its member banks, will be supporting a large group of Olympic 'Hopefuls' – those athletes with potential to get into their national teams for the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games or Paralympic Games - through direct financial contributions that can be used by the athletes to pay for their training and travelling expenses, as well as on-going advise and support from the Team Visa 'Mentors'.
Dr Steve Perry, Executive Vice President, Relationship Management and Marketing, Visa EU said, 'We are supporting Team Visa across Europe because the Olympics are all about having pride in your national team, about celebrating national differences and backing local heroes. It’s a way for Visa EU to take the investment in the future of the Olympics to a new level; to help and encourage young athletes to make the most of their opportunities; to empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things and to help the next generation of top athletes achieve their dreams.
Dr Perry continued, 'I am delighted to announce that Sir Steve Redgrave CBE is to be the Mentor for Team Visa in the UK. His Olympic achievements are simply outstanding and so he is exceptionally well placed to mentor, help and support the UK Team Visa Hopefuls.'
Sir Steve Redgrave, CBE and Mentor for Team Visa in the UK said, 'I am delighted to have been invited by Visa to be a part of this exciting Olympic initiative and to be able to pass on my hard earned experience to young athletes. The thing that hits you about the Olympic Games is their sheer magnitude – you may be a big player within your own sport, but when you turn up at the Games you quickly realise that you’re just one of 28 sports that are also having their
biggest event. It’s easy to get sidetracked from your goals.
'I’m also particularly pleased that Visa appreciates that there is no differentiation between the commitment, dedication, ability and inspiration needed to become a
Paralympic athlete as compared to an Olympic athlete. It is an important facet of Team Visa that the programme is open to both Olympic and Paralympic athlete alike'.
Team Visa in the UK consists of the following athletes:
There is a perfect synergy between Visa EU’s brand strategy of 'The Future Takes Visa' and supporting the Olympic Hopefuls through Team Visa – the up and coming athletes of the future. The Olympic Hopefuls are critical to the
integration of the Olympics within 'The Future Takes Visa' as they provide the perfect link between the brand strategy and Olympic values.
Visa International is a worldwide Olympic partner and the exclusive payment card of the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Greece.
For more details contact:
Roz Barder
Visa EU
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7795 5336
barderr@visa.com