Olympic and Paralympic athletes visit the Olympic Stadium site for the announcement of Visa as Presenting Partner for Team 2012Visa Europe’s sponsorship will help support sporting bodies as they provide the training and competition support needed for athletes hoping to compete at the 2012 Games.
Team GB is the largest national team ever sponsored, with 1,200 athletes across a total of 47 Olympic and Paralympic sports and disciplines.
It is a groundbreaking partnership between the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations (BOA and BPA), the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), and UK Sport. The four bodies came together earlier this year to create this initiative for Olympic and Paralympic sponsors to get behind the nation’s top athletes aiming for London 2012 and beyond.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: 'Today’s launch of Team 2012 is a ground-breaking moment for British sport. Team 2012 will help bring to reality the dreams of future generations of athletes in competing at the very highest level.
'We are delighted to have Visa as the presenting partner and driving force behind Team 2012. Their support is vital and complements the crucial funding from the National Lottery and Government. Team 2012 will help ensure that as Olympians and Paralympians head toward London, they are properly resourced to do the job and make Britain proud.'
Peter Ayliffe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Visa Europe said: 'As a worldwide partner of the Olympic Games since 1986, Visa is proud to have created such a prolific partnership with Team 2012. It will embody British pride, courage, effort and achievement and provides a unique opportunity for the country to get behind the UK’s best athletes and help them compete and win more medals than ever before.
'The athletes’ race for success doesn’t begin at the starting line, it has already begun, and Visa plans to support them every step of the way through Team 2012.'
Read the full media release on the BOA website
