Visa's Paralympic Games sponsorship

Visa was the global sponsor of the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games, where it was the official payment service and the only card accepted.

Torino 2006 was the third Paralympic Games sponsored by Visa following Salt Lake City in March 2002 and Athens in September 2004. This sponsorship is a very important part of Visa’s Olympic commitment.

Visa has been a supporter of a number of Paralympic sports federations around the world since the 1996 Paralympic Games and is a two-time sponsor of the Paralympic Congress. In 1998, Visa supported the Nagano Paralympic Winter Games, both through operational efforts and marketing support.

This involvement included providing an international ATM network for visitors and athletes, online customer services for Visa cardholders, and extending merchant acceptance locations within select Paralympic venues.

Visa’s involvement through technology, expertise, products and personnel is fundamental to the staging of the Paralympic Games. Visa also looks to use its widely known and respected brand to help bring the achievements of Paralympic athletes to a worldwide audience.

Sponsorship of the Paralympic Games allows Visa to reach out to more than 500 million people with disabilities worldwide and their families with a message of inclusion. By engaging in dialogue, raising awareness of existing Visa products and services, developing new technologies specifically for the needs of the disabled community, extending issuance, and creating an affinity with Visa’s 21,000 Member banks, Visa provides this community with greater access and choice.

Visa’s sponsorship has already resulted in the first Visa Paralympic web site, www.visaparalympics.com, fully accessible to people with vision, hearing and mobility challenges. The site is aimed at the general public, but contains information tailored to the specific needs of disabled athletes and their friends and families.

In Salt Lake City and Athens, Visa donated hundreds of tickets and passes to children with disabilities and their families so they could attend the events. Visa has also created an orientation day at each Games to connect Paralympians and children with disabilities undergoing rehabilitation. The athletes inspire and encourage the children by speaking with them and demonstrating their athletic prowess.

Other Visa Paralympic activities

Visa Europe sponsors the British Paralympic Association (BPA). This sponsorship helped the BPA send around 320 athletes and support staff to the Paralympic Games in Athens
Visa Canada and Visa Europe in Germany partnered with regional Paralympic Committees to bring Visa customers to the Athens Paralympic Games
In Athens, Visa worked to ensure accessibility for people with a disability through the ERMIS programme, which recognised around 10,000 public buildings and merchants who had upgraded their facilities to accommodate visitors of varying physical abilities
Visa Latin America is an exclusive partner of the Brazilian and Mexican Paralympic Committees
Every Team Visa programme in Europe includes at least one Paralympic hopeful

Further information

Journalists should contact the Visa Europe press office:

Tel: +44 (0)20 7795 5463
Email: europeanmedia@visa.com