Sponsor Spotlight -- Visa Looks to Canada; Heathrow Possible London Partner

Visa Report Looks Hopeful for 2010 Vancouver

Top sponsor Visa reported that Visa card spending by international visitors to Canada increased to $300 million during 2007-2008. The news comes a year before Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“The Vancouver Games provide a strong opportunity to elevate Canada’s global visibility and attract increased tourism revenues, as we saw with the recent Beijing Games,” Head of Visa Canada Tim Wilson said.

A Visa international tourism survey also suggests that one in four respondents will likely attend the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

“Tourism to Canada is alive and well for Visa cardholders, and is an increasingly appealing and cost-effective destination for U.S. travelers, as they accounted for the majority of tourism spending on Visa cards in 2008,” Wilson said.

U.S. visitors made up 50 percent of the $9 billion spent in 2008, while Asia, Australia and Western Europe made up 23 percent.

“As people all over the world come to use their Visa cards more frequently for everyday purchases, they are keeping this habit while on vacation,” Wilson said.

BAA on Verge of 2012 Sponsor Agreement

British Airport Authority is on the verge of presenting a $14.8 million bid to become the airport services supplier for the 2012 Olympics. It would make Heathrow the point of entrance for the Games.

BAA would become a tier three supplier of the Games and be able to give welcome desks, VIP escorts, fast-track for athletes and media facilities for free.

“We are in discussions with LOCOG about the services they will require, but no formal arrangements have been put in place,” a BAA spokesman said.

BAA announced earlier in the week that its traffic had declined for a 12th straight month.

Passenger numbers plunged 11.3 percent last month.

BAA is also facing a change in its makeup as the U.K. Competition Commission decided last month that BAA would have to sell three of its six airports: Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh or Glasgow.

AVP Continues with NBC

AVP Pro Beach Volleyball has agreed to continue its broadcast agreement with NBC Sports for 2009.

“We’re very pleased to continue this long-standing partnership with NBC Sports and to bring beach volleyball to fans across the U.S.,” AVP CEO Jason Hodell said.

NBC Sports has broadcast the sport for nine years including the AVP events of the Beijing Olympics.

“NBC brought record-high viewership to the Olympics last year, and we could not be happier that fans will be able to see our athletes compete on NBC once again this summer,” Hodell added.

The agreement includes NBC Sports covering events in New York in July and the AVP Crocs Tour in California and Chicago in August.

FITA Partners with DHL

The International Archery Federation (FITA) announced that it has agreed to a one-year partnership with DHL as its Official Freight Forwarder for the Archery World Championships and World Cup.

“We are convinced that this new relationship will be a beneficial for both parties,” FITA President Dr. Ugur Erdener said. “It is important for us that our equipment is handled by somebody who we absolutely trust. “

DHL is a global market company in the international express and logistics industry and its international network links more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

We hope to help in the recognition of DHL as partner of an international sport and Olympic federation like FITA. We are very happy to count with DHL in the archery family,” Erdener said.

The Archery World Championships will take place in Ulsan, Korea and the World Cup Final will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, both in September.

Briefs…

…Car manufacturer Subaru announced Olympic medalist Sharon Hunt as its new brand ambassador. The event rider will promote Subaru by having her car at major competitions during the year. Subaru also sponsors event riders Oliver Townend and Emily Llewellyn.

Written by Isia Reaves.