Visa Inc. announced May 27 its title sponsorship of the Visa Federation Internationale de Volleyball Beach Volleyball International tournament, which will take place Aug. 9 to 14 at the Horse Guard Parade in London.
The event is part of the London Prepares series of test events leading up to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, of which Visa is a sponsor. It also marks the first time London has hosted a women’s international beach volleyball tournament, Visa says. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games for the 2012 Summer Olympics runs the London Prepares series.
Visa did not disclose its marketing plans for the event because it is still developing them, a Visa spokesperson said in an e-mail statement. But as with other Olympic events, Visa is the official payment service provider of the London Prepares series, and consumers will only be able to use Visa debit, credit or prepaid cards to purchase tickets to the events. Visa also will be the only card accepted on site for other purchases.
“As a long-term sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, sponsoring the beach volleyball test event as part of the ‘London Prepares’ series gives us an opportunity not only to be at the heart of the action as excitement around the Games builds, but it also allows us to prepare for London 2012, where we will be showcasing our latest payment technology,” Colin Grannell, Visa Europe head of partnership marketing noted in a press release. A spokesperson tells PaymentsSource Visa will feature contactless technology and mobile payments.
Visa also is a presenting partner of Team 2012, the group of 1,200 British athletes vying to compete at the Summer Olympics in London next year, including Shauna Miller and Zara Dampney (see photo), the top-seeded British women’s beach volleyball pair hoping to take part in the Federation Internationale de Volleyball Beach tournament in London.
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