Seven Markets, 38 Athletes, Six Mentors, One Team

Team Visa is an innovative sponsorship programme that recognises and supports young athletes in their preparations for potential involvement in the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Created by Visa Europe in 2002 for the advent of the Athens 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and continued through the Torino 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Team Visa fuses the ambition and talent of some of Europe’s most promising youngsters with the experience and success of some of the greatest Olympic and Paralympic performers of all-time.

Team Visa Europe Beijing 2008 comprises seven markets (UK, Italy, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden & Finland), 38 athletes and six Mentors.

The athletes are split into two categories: 27 ‘Hopefuls’ whose ambition is qualification for Beijing 2008 and 11 ‘Apprentices’ whose sights are set on London 2012, across a total of 23 different sports.

The Hopefuls are established athletes at senior level and are regarded as excellent prospects for selection for their respective National teams. Most are medal-winners at international competition and some, such as Beth Tweddle (UK), Frédéric Belaubre (France) and Lars Börgeling (Germany) have already experienced the unique atmosphere of an Olympic Games.

The Apprentices are young up-and-coming athletes who have shown outstanding ability in their chosen fields. Ranging from the ages of 13-18, while the majority are viewed as potential members of their National team for the London 2012 Games some, such as Thomas Daley and Aaron Cook (UK), are pushing for selection for Beijing 2008.

To support them on their journey, Team Visa has enlisted the skills and experience of some of the most renowned and respected names in Olympic and Paralympic sport. The six Team Visa Mentors – Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson (UK), Jury Chechi (Italy), Heike Drechsler (Germany), Jean-Philippe Gatien (France) and Bjorn Daehlie (Norway, Sweden and Finland) – will pass on their advice, guidance and, above all, inspiration to their protégés, assisting them in their preparation for the biggest event of their careers.

The Team Visa concept supports Visa’s position as a long-term sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic movements, identifying it as a brand that: assists and encourages athletes to maximise the opportunities presented to them helps talented but essentially ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things motivates athletes towards realising their dreams supports National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees, as well as the development of Olympic sports in various countries invests in the future of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, over and beyond Visa’s formal sponsorship agreements Visa feels strongly that there is no differentiation between the commitment, dedication, ability and inspiration needed to become a Paralympic athlete to that of an Olympic performer. It is an important facet of Team Visa that the programme is non-discriminatory and open to Olympic and Paralympic prospects, as evidenced by the selection of 10 athletes and one Mentor with a disability in the Team Visa Europe line-up.

Who are the Team Visa Europe athletes

Team Visa UK

Mentors

Sir Steve Redgrave – Rowing – Coxed/Coxless Fours & Coxless Pair

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson – IPC Athletics (T53 – Wheelchair) – 100m/200m/400m/800m/1500m/Marathon

Hopefuls:

Mo Farah – Athletics – 5,000m

Paul Goodison – Sailing – Laser Class

Fiona Pennie – Kayaking – K1 Single Slalom

Caitlin McClatchey – Swimming – Freestyle

Beth Tweddle – Gymnastics – All Around/Floor/A. Bars

Richard Kruse – Fencing – Foil

John McFall – IPC Athletics (T42 – Lower Left Leg Amputee) – 100m/200m

Libby Clegg – IPC Athletics (T12 – Blind) – 100m/200m

Apprentices:

Chris Adcock – Badminton – Singles/Men’s Doubles/Mixed Doubles

Gabby White – Badminton – Singles/Women’s Doubles/Mixed Doubles

Thomas Daley – Diving – 3m Springboard/10m Platform

Aaron Cook – Taekwondo – -80kg category

Paul Drinkhall – Table Tennis – Singles/Men’s Doubles

Darius Knight – Table Tennis – Singles/Men’s Doubles

Natasha Baker – Para-Equestrian (Level 2 Disability) – Individual/Music

Helen Freeman – Wheelchair Basketball (Wheelchair) – Women’s Team

Team Visa Italy

 

Mentor

Jury Chechi – Gymnastics- Rings

Hopefuls

Andrew Howe – Athletics – Long Jump

Stefania Cicali – Canoeing – K2/K4 Classes

Alessia Filippi – Swimming – Medley/Backstroke

Matteo Betti – Wheelchair Fencing (Wheelchair) – Singles/Team

Team Visa Germany

 

Mentor

Heike Drechsler – Athletics – 100m/200m/Long Jump

Hopefuls

Stephanie Pohl – Beach Volleyball – Women’s Pair

Okka Rau – Beach Volleyball – Women’s Pair

Lars Börgeling – Athletics – Pole Vault

Katharina Krüger – Wheelchair Tennis (Wheelchair) – Singles

Team Visa France

 

Mentor

Jean-Philippe Gatien – Table Tennis – Singles/Men’s Doubles

Hopefuls

Gevrise Emane – Judo – – 70kg Class

Frederick Belaubre – Triathlon

Nadege Douroux – Sailing – 470 Class

Ingrid Petitjean – Sailing – 470 Class

Sabrina Poignet – Wheelchair Fencing (Wheelchair) – Individual/Team

Team Visa Norway

 

Mentor

Bjorn Daehlie – Cross Country Skiing – 10km/20km/50km/Team

Hopefuls

Alexander Dale Oen – Swimming – Breaststroke

Bjørnar Erikstad – IPC Sailing (Dwarf) – 2.4 Class

Apprentice

Frida Vesla Schneider – Rowing – Single /Double Sculls

Team Visa Sweden

 

Hopefuls

Magnus Arvidsson – Athletics – Javelin

Aron Anderson – IPC Athletics (T54 – Wheelchair)- 400m/800m/1500m/5000m

Apprentice

Emma Samuelsson – Fencing – Epee (Team)

Team Visa Finland

 

Hopefuls

Olli-Pekka Karjalainen – Athletics – Hammer

Reeta Peltola – IPC Swimming (S6) – Freestyle

Apprentice

Maria Valtanen – Athletics – 800m 

 

fonte: VisaEurope.com 

Si chiude la terza edizione del "Team Visa", progetto di endorsement olimpico messo in campo da Visa, global sponsor del Cio in sette differenti mercati per un totale di 38 atleti. Adesso l’obiettivo è la creazione di un grande progetto di comunicazione in vista dei Giochi di Londra, dove Visa ha il suo quartier generale europeo.