Press Releases

• Press Releases
• Media Contacts
• Statistics
• Fact Sheets
• Downloadable Assets
• Press Kit

Team Visa's South African Olympians announced

Visa  today announced the Olympic athletes that will make up the South African contingent of the global "Team Visa" - an integrated international sponsorship programme that combines the popularity and appeal of famous Olympic greats ("Olympic Mentors/Ambassadors") with the positive influence they will have on the up and coming Olympic stars (Olympic "Hopefuls"). The Team Visa "Hopefuls" from South Africa are triple and long jump national record holder Khotso Mokoena, and 400m hurdler Louis van Zyl. South African swimming legend Ryk Neethling completes the South African contingent as an Olympic "Mentor." This is an expansion of Visa's commitment to the Olympic Movement, National Olympic Committees and national teams, which has been an important factor in ensuring the continued success of the Olympic Games.

Across Central Europe Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) Visa will be supporting a large group of Olympic "Hopefuls" - those athletes with potential to join their national teams for the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games or Paralympic Games - through direct financial contributions, as well as on-going advice and support from the Team Visa "Mentors."

Gillian Buchanan, Corporate Communications Manager, Visa CEMEA said, "We are supporting Team Visa across CEMEA because the Olympics are all about having pride in your national team, about celebrating national differences and backing local heroes. It's a way for Visa CEMEA to take investment in the future of the Olympics to a new level; to help and encourage young athletes to make the most of their opportunities; to empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things and to help the next generation of top athletes achieve their dreams."

Buchanan said: "As a worldwide TOP partner of the Olympic Movement, Visa already has a long term commitment to Olympic sport. The introduction of Team Visa takes our involvement to a new level in CEMEA, where we are delighted to be working directly with talented athletes in preparing for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In doing so we are privileged to call on the unparalleled experience of three truly great sporting figures: Sergei Bubka of Ukraine, Aleksei Nemov of Russia and Ryk Neethling of South Africa."

Neethling said "I am thrilled to have been invited by Visa to be a part of this exciting Olympic initiative, which promotes both the Olympic ideals and team spirit.  It takes hard work, discipline, consistent effort, and passion, for an athlete to take part at the Games."

"I'm also pleased that Visa appreciates that there is no differentiation between the commitment, dedication, ability and inspiration needed to become a Paralympic athlete as compared to an Olympic athlete. An athlete is always an athlete. With great pleasure I will share everything I've learned all this years with the rising stars, helping them through the Team Visa initiative to make their dreams come true."