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PR: Visa U.S.A. Extends U.S. Ski & Snowboard Partnership Through 2002
Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City
10/15/98
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 1998 -- U.S. Olympic team partner Visa U.S.A.,
the longest-standing sponsor of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team, today
became the first corporate partner to extend its support of the U.S. Ski
and Snowboard Team through the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake
City.
Under this agreement, Visa will remain the "Official Card of the U.S. Ski
and Snowboard Team" through June 30, 2003. The partnership will be
leveraged through a fully integrated marketing program consisting of
national television and print advertising, ski industry retail
promotions, event sponsorship and prominent signage on team uniforms. In
return, Visa plans to aid the team's fund raising efforts with the
ongoing "Give the U.S. Ski Team a Lift" cardholder usage campaign. Visa
will also support the development of the team by providing motivational
seminars with past Olympic greats.
"We're happy to extend our longstanding partnership with the U.S. Ski &
Snowboard Team as it prepares for Olympic competition on American soil,"
said Michael Lynch, vice president, Event and Sponsorship Marketing, Visa
U.S.A.
"As a sponsor, Visa continually looks to build value and market share for
its Member banks. By extending our relationship with the U.S. Ski and
Snowboard Team, Visa Member banks, merchants and cardholders will
continue to capitalize on the team's successes, the ski industry's retail
and travel business and, ultimately, the 2002 Winter Olympic Games."
As part of the renewed partnership, Visa will sponsor the following the
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) events: "Return of the
Champions"; selected World Cup events; the Chevy Truck U.S. Alpine
Championships; and the Chevy S-10 U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix. At each
venue, Visa will receive presence marketing, Visa preference programs,
advertising and VIP hospitality.
In addition, the Visa mark will continue its prominent position on team
uniforms, and Visa, its Member financial institutions and participating
merchants will retain the right to use the USSA marks in their
advertising and promotional programs.
"The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team is thrilled to continue its longstanding
relationship with Visa," said Bill Marolt, president and CEO of the U.S.
Ski and Snowboard Association, the Team's parent organization. "Visa
will continue to be an integral part of our training and preparation for
the Salt Lake City Olympic Games and beyond. In addition, Visa's
continued support enables the USSA to expand its program offerings to
athletes, coaches and officials at the grassroots level."
In an ongoing effort to support the development of U.S. athletes, Visa
and its cardholders will provide direct financial support and educational
programs to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team.
Visa is finalizing plans to continue the "Give the U.S. Ski Team a Lift"
campaign, a supplemental donation program for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard
Team. Donations to the USSA from this program will be based on Visa card
transactions. To date, Visa has committed nearly $2 million to the U.S.
Ski and Snowboard Team, which is used to help cover the costs of
training, sports- science programs and travel.
This agreement helps to strengthen Visa's Olympic presence that already
includes partnerships with the International Olympic Committee, Sydney
2000 Games, and National Governing Bodies such as USA Hockey, U.S. Figure
Skating Association, USA Gymnastics, USA Track & Field, and USA Cycling.
Visa's current event marketing portfolio also includes the National
Football League, the Visa Triple Crown Challenge and, as of Jan. 1, 1999,
NASCAR.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is the national governing body for
Olympic skiing and snowboarding, managing programs in six sports from
grassroots up to the elite-level U.S. Ski and Snowboard Teams.
Visa, the leading card brand and the largest consumer payment system
worldwide, is a payment solution for consumers, industry and government.
It plays a pivotal role in advancing new payment products and
technologies to benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions, their
cardholders, and the global economy. Visa is the only consumer payment
system to facilitate $1 trillion worth of purchases of goods and services
in a fiscal year. Visa's more than 600 million cards are accepted at
over 15 million worldwide locations, including more than 440,000 ATMs in
the Visa/PLUS Global ATM Network. Visa's Internet address is
www.visa.com.
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