As a long-term supporter of Canadian amateur athletes, Visa proudly announced its Team Visa athletes who aim to compete in the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Seven summer athletes, including five Olympic and two Paralympic hopefuls, were added to the company's unique Olympic Games sponsorship program. Olympic Gold Medalists Marnie McBean and Bruny Surin and Paralympic Gold Medalist Marni Abbott-Peter will serve as Team Visa mentors to the aspiring amateur athletes as they set their sights on the 2008 Games.

The following athletes have been selected to join Team Visa:

• Mark Boswell (High Jump)
• Karen Furneaux (Kayak)
• Emilie Heymans (Diving)
• Benoit Huot (Paralympic Swimming)
• Sabrina Kolker (Rowing)
• Richard Peter (Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball)
• Rick Say (Swimming)

These athletes will join an impressive roster of existing Team Visa members, including summer athletes Myriam Boileau (Diving), Nicole Forrester (High Jump), Brent Hayden (Swimming), and Team Visa ambassador Jody Holden (Beach Volleyball). The athletes will receive long-term support - both through direct financial support and access to veteran Olympic and Paralympic mentors - as they prepare for one of the greatest athletic challenges of their lives.

"We at Visa are continually inspired by the dedication and passion demonstrated by amateur athletes within their sports and communities," said Brenda Woods, Vice President, Marketing, Visa. "Visa is proud to support these competitors on their journey to Beijing through training, financial support and direct access to world-class athletes, like Team Visa mentors Marnie McBean, Bruny Surin and Marni Abbott-Peter."

Team Visa members: Role models in athletics and in the community

For the first time in its four year history, the Team Visa program launched a public nomination process in June 2006 to help select the 2008 Team Visa roster. Submitted by athletes' friends, family, teammates, coaches, supporters and athletes themselves, a remarkable 480 nominations supporting 147 nominees were received.

As with all Team Visa athletes, the seven newly appointed members were selected for their sporting achievements, commitment to developing their sports, and active community involvement. It is because of these exemplary characteristics that Visa supports these athletes through the Team Visa program

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Team Visa program: Long-term sponsorship with added benefits

Visa understands that Canadian amateur athletes require support during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and in the days of training in-between Games. By providing both long-term financial support and access to mentors, the Team Visa program helps athletes handle the challenges they may face in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Team Visa mentors are elite athletes who have also established themselves as exceptional role models. Olympians Marnie McBean, Bruny Surin and Paralympian Marni Abbott-Peter will provide world-class mentorship for the aspiring athletes on the road to the 2008 Games.

"To be asked to be a mentor to athletes who are striving for success at the Olympic Games is an honour," said Marnie McBean, three-time Gold Medal Olympian, Manager of Olympic Preparation at the Canadian Olympic Committee, and Team Visa 2008 mentor. "Team Visa goes so much further than other corporate programs out there by not only providing financial assistance to athletes leading up to and after the Games, but also by providing athletes with unique access to successful veteran Olympians and Paralympians who can guide through some of the small but very challenging steps to success. Whether through phone, email or in person, Bruny, Marni and I are available to share insights, answer questions, and help address the challenges they may face in the upcoming months. I am very pleased to be part of Team Visa."

Since 1988, Visa has been a committed supporter of the Olympic Movement and was the first TOP sponsor to extend its sponsorship into the 2012 Olympic Games. Visa is committed to supporting amateur athletes through its worldwide sponsorship of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, its support of the Canadian men's and women's bobsleigh and skeleton teams and through further expansion of the Team Visa program.

About Visa

Visa connects cardholders, merchants and financial institutions through the world's largest electronic payments network. Visa products allow buyers and sellers to conduct commerce with ease and confidence in both the physical and virtual worlds. Visa is committed to the sustained growth of electronic payment systems to support the needs of all stakeholders and to drive economic growth. Visa^® products currently generate more than $US 4 trillion in sales volume worldwide. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world. In addition, Visa/Plus is one of the world's largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in over 170 countries. Within Canada, financial institutions have issued more than 29 million Visa cards, accounting for $168 billion in sales volume in 2006. For more information, visit www.visa.ca.

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