The Olympic Winter Games will present an opportunity for Italy to showcase its unique culture on a global scale, while presenting a more sustainable, positive and healthier future. Did you know that the XXV Olympic Winter Games will be spread over eight towns and more than 22,000 sq kms in Northern Italy and it’s set to be the most gender balanced Olympic Winter Games in history with 47% of athletes being female.
Visa has been a Worldwide Olympic Partner since 1986, and each Olympic Games – Summer or Winter – has been the catalyst for accelerating payments innovation. From contactless to NFC wearables to Urban Mobility solutions, we’ve delivered the best-in-class payments systems available to local organisations, businesses and fans.
These small steps have paved the way for long term societal changes – just think how contactless payments were introduced in the Olympic and Paralympic Games London 2012 that have revolutionised commerce– but also shorter-term impacts.
For example, Visa data¹ uncovered consumer spending patterns during the opening weekend of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. These included:
- Small businesses in Paris benefitted from 26% year-on-year rise in sales from Visa cardholders during the first weekend of the Olympic Games¹
- 78% of international purchases in Paris were contactless, up 9% year-on-year¹
- 39% increase in flight bookings to Paris in the lead up to the Games over the same period in 2023¹
- Increased travel to Paris by travellers under the age of 35, growing 120% year-on-year¹
- Spending was also up significantly in cities hosting Olympic Games events outside Paris including Saint-Etienne (+214%), Lille (+100%) and Marseille (+38%)¹
The data showed a significant increase in consumer spending among Visa cardholders during the opening weekend, giving an indication of the potential impact host areas across Northern Italy may see too. Visa will also deliver a range of programmes during the games with the aim of leaving a longer legacy in the region, supporting economic growth by digitising the local economy and promoting financial inclusion though innovation:
- Urban regeneration: A partnership with the Milan Municipality to revitalise a park in Milan that will become an active and sustainable venue open to citizens and visitors for events, educational projects and sports activities.
- Urban Mobility: Boosting sustainable mobility for the Games and beyond by expanding transit EMV acceptance, promoting more sustainable and affordable transport to access venues and move around the region.
- Retail: A new collaboration with partners to help digitise ski services and retail on the mountains and in 50+ resorts, including for equipment rental, lodging, ski lessons, restaurants and more.
- Local SMBs: Continuing the commitment to support micro and small merchants involved in MiCo in their digital journey, adding to the 1 million merchants already digitally enabled in Italy as part of Visa’s broader effort to support SMBs. The benefits will focus on assisting local businesses in increasing their digital acceptance to seize on opportunities presented by international visitors.
Visa’s seamless and secure payments technologies will provide unique customer experiences for fans, tourists and locals alike, alongside convenient and secure payment solutions to boost growth. The power of Visa’s products and solutions will invite everyone to feel they’re a part of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Priority Ticket Sales for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will start 6 February 2025 only for those who participated in the draw. For those who did not register for the draw the sale will start from April 2025. Sales for the Paralympic Games will open March 6, 2025 for the general public, with an exclusive Visa cardholder Pre-Sale starting March 5.