Visa's Olympic Flame to Burn Into the NextCentury; Visa International Renews Worldwide...

SAN FRANCISCO/LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1999--

Visa International today announced the renewal of its Olympic partnership as a TOP V Worldwide Partner of the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2002, and the XXVIII Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece, in 2004.

As a TOP V (The Olympic Program V) Olympic Sponsor, Visa will be the exclusive payment card and the official payment system of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the 2004 Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Visa also will have the exclusive global marketing rights and receive Official status for the 2002 and 2004 Paralympic Games.

"The Olympic Games truly are a global event that transcend sport. No other sponsorship opportunity compares with them in offering a combination of international exposure, broad-based audience, and a wide range of events with global appeal," said Malcolm Williamson, president and CEO of Visa International. "Our Olympic partnership has allowed our 21,000 Visa Member financial institutions worldwide to become actively involved in creating unique marketing programs, sponsoring Olympic athletic programs, and offering numerous benefits to both their cardholders and to the athletes," Williamson added.

Sponsorship also is extended to all 200 National Olympic Committees around the world and their Olympic teams. Rights include advertising and promotional use of Olympic marks and graphics from the Olympic Games as well as marks from the National and International Olympic Committees.

"Visa has been active worldwide in supporting the athletes, National Olympic Committees and the Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games. Visa also uniquely supports the Cultural Olympiad with art contests targeted to youth," said Richard W. Pound, First Vice President of the International Olympic Committee. "The Olympic Movement is very pleased to continue its long-standing association with Visa. It is a great partnership."

Visa's past Olympic partnership has included three Olympic Summer Games (Seoul, Barcelona, and Atlanta) and four Olympic Winter Games (Calgary, Albertville, Lillehammer and Nagano). Currently, Visa is generating excitement and awareness about its sponsorship of the upcoming Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and working with its Member financial institutions and merchants to foster the Olympic spirit between now and the Sydney Olympic Games.

As a worldwide TOP sponsor, Visa contributes significantly to the host country market by developing business alliances with destination marketing partners. The current partnerships with the Australian Tourist Commission, Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau and Tourism New South Wales have generated more than US$30 million in marketing value to the host Olympic country since 1996.

The Olympic sponsorship has proven to be a mutually beneficial relationship between the Olympic athletes and Visa's Members. Sponsoring the Olympic Games has given Visa Member financial institutions the right to incorporate Olympic themes and symbols into their fund-raising, advertising and marketing efforts throughout the world. Since 1986, more than 20 million Visa cards bearing the coveted Olympic rings have been issued by Visa's Members.

Worldwide, more than 500 key Visa member financial institutions are involved in leveraging the Olympic Games to benefit their cardholders and merchants. The Olympic Games also have provided an opportunity to introduce Visa products and services to a uniquely global audience.

Visa's Members have made significant financial contributions to Olympic hopefuls around the world. These donations help athletes receive better training opportunities and facilities.

Visa also supports a worldwide Olympic art program for children, the Visa Olympics of the Imagination, which offers young artists an opportunity to attend the Olympic Games as guests of Visa.

The Olympic Games are a unique and enduring global sporting and cultural event that continue to deliver to our Members such equities as worldwide acceptance, reliability, versatility, and market leadership.

Note to Editors:

As the "World's Best Way to Pay," Visa is the world's leading payment brand and the largest payment system worldwide with more volume than all other major payment cards combined. Visa plays a pivotal role in advancing new payment products and technologies to benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions and their cardholders. Visa has more than 80 smart card programs in 35 countries and on the Internet, with 23 million Visa chip cards, including 8 million Visa Cash cards. Visa is pioneering SET Secure Electronic Transaction(TM) programs to enable and advance Internet commerce. There are over 880 million Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink, PLUS and Visa Cash cards, which generate more than US$1.4 trillion in annual volume. Visa-branded cards are accepted at over 18 million worldwide locations, including at more than 530,000 ATMs in the Visa Global ATM Network. Visa's Internet address is www.visa.com.