Visa to sponsor London 2012 Olympic Games Inaugural Event

6 months ago 18th Jun 15:35

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and Paralympic Games today unveiled its plans to host a free concert to celebrate the handover of the Olympic Flag from Beijing to London during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games on August 24, 2008.

The Visa London 2012 Party will officially mark the beginning of London’s status as host-city of the 2012 Olympiad. The announcement was made today by London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe, Olympics Minister Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, Visa Europe CEO Peter Ayliffe and Team Visa Olympic Apprentice Tom Daley.

With a line-up of top British acts scheduled to perform on The Mall in London, the Visa London 2012 Party will be an historic opportunity to celebrate the start of London’s Olympiad. UK residents can apply for tickets through a free ballot system and with 40,000 people expected to attend, the Visa London 2012 Party will commemorate the beginning of the exciting journey ahead for all.

As a global sponsor of the Olympic Games since 1986, Visa has supported 11 Olympic Games and has been Global Sponsor of the Paralympic Games since 2002. In addition to this support, since 2002 Visa Europe has supported over 100 athletes through its mentoring programme Team Visa. Team Visa is a sponsorship programme that helps young athletes to fulfil their Olympic and Paralympic dreams by providing them with both financial support and access to mentoring from Olympic and Paralympic Greats including Sir Steve Redgrave & Dame Tanni Grey Thompson.

Visa Europe’s President and CEO, Peter Ayliffe, commented: “We’ve been sponsoring the Olympics since 1986 and are so proud to be sponsoring this party that kicks off London 2012. It provides a chance for everyone in the UK to get involved in the handover, by either coming to the event or watching it on television. For us, London 2012 doesn’t start in 2012, it starts on 24th August."