PyeongChang 2018 Sponsor Teams Take Shape -- Sponsor Spotlight

(ATR) Visa and Deliotte announced this week its team of sponsored athletes going to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.

The Visa delegation is comprised of 40 Olympians and Paralympians from 17 countries, who will receive "tools, resources and support" ahead of PyeongChang. The Team Visa program was started in 2000.

For the 2018 edition, athletes will come from five different continents including South America and Africa. The sports represented by the athletes covers "snowboarding and speed skating to ski jumping and figure skating," and more according to Visa.

"We think this roster is the perfect embodiment of what the Visa brand stands for, as these athletes push boundaries every day in everything they do," Chris Curtin, chief marketing innovation and brand officer at Visa, said. "Team Visa athletes remain at the heart of Visa and we are excited to cheer them on in their pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic Gold in PyeongChang."

Highlighted athletes include Mikaela Shiffrin, USA; Chloe Kim, USA; Mark McMorris, Canada; Sang Hwa Lee, South Korea; Gus Kenworthy, USA; Kamil Stoch, USA; Oksana Masters, USA, and Hilary Knight, USA. A full list of the 40 Team Visa athletes can be found here.

Deloitte is sponsoring 10 Team USA athletes and the United States National Sled Hockey Team ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.

"Team Deloitte" includes experienced Olympians and Paralympians Brittany Bowe (speedskating), Jason Brown (figure skating), Shani Davis (speedskating), Gus Kenworthy (freestyle skiing), Hilary Knight (ice hockey), Rico Roman (sled hockey), Danelle Umstead (alpine skiing) and Elana Meyers Taylor (bobsled). Taylor is hoping to compete with her husband, Nic Taylor, at PyeongChang. He and Mikaela Matthews (freestyle skiing) are the two members of "Team Deloitte" who are trying to make their first Olympics.

"We are excited and proud of our work with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and to support 10 Team USA athletes, and the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team," Deloitte CEO Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. "These women and men are at the heart of our sponsorship, and we take pride in helping them awaken their full potential."

"Training, equipment and travel all come at a cost, and they are key to the success of all Olympic and Paralympic athletes," said Team Deloitte athlete Knight. "The support from Deloitte lets me stay focused on my training. It means a lot to me, knowing that Deloitte is behind me all the way."

Written by Aaron Bauer and Gerard Farek

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