Visa Sponsors Refugee Olympic Athletes

21 Jul 2016 | tshego

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Visa has announced sponsorship deals with all 10 members of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) refugee team, becoming their first corporate sponsor.

The IOC introduced its first refugee team in June, naming six men and four women who will compete in the sports of swimming, judo and athletics, marching with the Olympic flag.

The team includes five athletes from South Sudan, two from Syria, two from Democratic Republic of Congo and one from Ethiopia.

Earlier in the countdown to Rio, Yusra Mardini (pictured), swimmer in the Refugee Olympic Team was named to Team Visa. Mardini will compete as a swimmer on the IOC’s team of refugee Olympic athletes after her courageous journey from Syria to Berlin, where she continues to train.

The value of Visa’s deals with refugee athletes, which it brokered directly with them with the help of the IOC, was not disclosed. The company can use the refugees in marketing campaigns if the IOC approves it.

“The refugee Olympic athletes are inspiring the world with their incredible stories of perseverance and bravery, overcoming great odds to get to the top of their respective sports and compete on the world’s stage,” said Chris Curtin, chief marketing innovation and brand officer, Visa. “These athletes, who will march with the Olympic flag at the Opening Ceremony in Rio, are a powerful addition to the Team Visa family, each embodying Visa’s belief in acceptance for everyone, everywhere.”

The announcement completes the Team Visa roster for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. With 60 athletes, it has grown by 62% since the last Olympic Games, with athletes representing a range of 26 sports, from diving and dressage to taekwondo and table tennis.