Visa Signs Up ‘team 2012’
UK Sport has signed up global Olympic partner Visa as the ‘presenting partner’ of its Team 2012 sponsorship programme.
The multimillion-pound deal had been seen as some as a way to help UK Sport fill a £50m gap in funding for the British Olympic team ahead of the London 2012 Games.
The deal will see Visa will have access to British athletes for promotions under the banner ‘Team 2012 presented by Visa’.
The agreement had been in question after leading Olympians such as cyclist Victoria Pendleton and swimmer Rebecca Adlington allegedly claimed that it would restrain their personal endorsements.
Contractual issues have now reportedly been resolved after UK Sport agreed that no fewer than four individuals from a minimum of three sports will be used to promote ‘Team 2012’ or Visa.
UK Sport is still looking, however, for additional lower-level ‘Team 2012’ sponsors.
