PORTLAND, Ore. – USA Track & Field’s series of elite indoor and outdoor track & field meets will step up to a new level when it becomes the Visa Championship Series in 2005 as athletes compete for $100,000 in bonus pool monies and other incentives.
USATF CEO Craig Masback and Visa USA senior vice president, event and sponsorship marketing, Michael Lynch, announced the renaming of the series Wednesday at the Opening General Session of USATF’s 2004 Annual Meeting, held at the Hilton Portland.
In conjunction with becoming the title sponsor of what was formerly the Golden Spike Tour, Visa extended its relationship with USATF through the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Wednesday’s announcement unveiling the new series name and logo gave final form to the most prestigious series of track & field meets in the country.
The expanded involvement of Visa in USATF elite athlete development continues Visa’s long-standing commitment to helping USATF develop the country’s preeminent track and field athletes. At the same time, it helps Visa engage its Member financial institutions and merchant partners to build their business in Olympic-related marketing activities and events between Olympic Games.
‘Visa is very proud to be an integral part of the Olympic journey USA Track & Field athletes will follow on their path to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games’ said Michael Lynch, senior vice president, event and sponsorship marketing, Visa USA. ‘The Visa Championship Seriesgives track & field athletes a chance to compete in front of friends and family for a share ofthe $100,000 bonus pool, as well as an opportunity for our Member banks to build their business.’
The Visa Championship Series includes ten nationally televised events, including the Indoor and Outdoor USA Track & Field Championships. The top performing male and female individual athletes in the indoor and outdoor series will be crowned Visa Champions. The Visa Champions will share $100,000 in new, bonus pool monies and two tickets each to a Visa-sponsored event of their choice. Athletes also win prize money at each Visa Championship Series stop.
As part of the Visa Championship Series, track & field fans will have an opportunity to get involved online by selecting the male and female athletes they think will become a Visa Champion. The entries with the correct predictions, for either the indoor or outdoor seasons, will be eligible for one of four grand prizes – a trip for two to a Visa-sponsored event like the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, Pro Bowl, or Tony Awards.
Visa has been a proud sponsor of USATF since 1988, and has already played a crucial role in athlete development in the men’s decathlon and women’s pole vault events in which the United States has broken world records and won gold medals, including at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, as well as the 1999, 2001 and 2003 World Outdoor Championships.
‘Visa has not only renamed the Visa Championship Series,’ USATF CEO Craig Masback said, ‘they have taken what was a world-class program and made it even more appealing to athletes and fans alike. Athletes now have even more incentive to compete in the Visa Championship Series, while fans watching the Series on television can better relate to the Series culminating in a grand prize. We and our athletes appreciate the support Visa has given us, and we’re looking forward to the Visa Championship Series building on the enormous success that the Golden Spike Tour has enjoyed.’
The Golden Spike Tour revolutionized the domestic track and field circuit for world-class U.S. athletes. Television ratings for the events have grown each year – by as much as 30 percent – even as other sports have suffered ratings declines. The Visa Championship Series will continue enabling athletes to compete on their home soil for substantial prize money.
Contact:
Jill Geer
Director of Communications
USA Track & Field
317-261-0478 x360