International Paralympic and Olympic Committees champion Yorkshire schoolgirl’s inclusive payment invention for sports fans of the future

With less than one week to go until the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, 10-year-old Beatrice from York has received an unexpected response from both the Olympic and Paralympic Committees (IOC & IPC), after writing them a letter about her invention to help make the Olympic and Paralympic Games even more accessible for people with disabilities.

It follows a recent initiative by Visa which reveals what fan experiences of the future could look like – as imagined by the innovators of tomorrow, Generation Alpha. Beatrice was appointed Visa’s first Junior Chief Innovation Officer in the UK after pitching an innovative and inclusive new design concept that involved a wearable device offering supportive hearing, sign language and an audible commentator, including a gamification concept as an engaging and inclusive way for fans to pay for things through the device.

Beatrice shared her idea with the committees via a hand-written letter and, much to her surprise, has since received heartwarming responses from the Presidents of the IOC and IPC, Thomas Bach and Andrew Parsons respectively, which congratulated her on her innovative idea to make the Games’ fan experience more accessible and inclusive.

Anne-Sophie Voumard, Managing Director, Television and Marketing Services, from the International Olympic Committee said, "We are dedicated to making the Games more inclusive, and Beatrice’s design embodies this mission. Enhancing the enjoyment of watching the Olympic and Paralympic Games and fostering a sense of participation is what this event is all about and we are delighted Beatrice has been appointed Visa’s first Junior Chief Innovation Officer.”

Craig Spence, Chief Brand & Communications Officer from the International Paralympic Committee stated, “We are greatly impressed by Beatrice's innovative vision for enhancing the fan experience for the future. Within the Paralympic Movement we aim to make for a more inclusive world through sport, and Beatrice’s demonstration of how this can be applied to payments and her creative use of technology to level the playing field for fans is impressive.”

Generation Alpha trailblazing the future of fandom

Building on the ‘Games wide open’ spirit of Paris 2024, Visa, the Official Payment Technology Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, hosted children aged 8-14 to its London-based headquarters for an ‘Olympic and Paralympic Games inspired’ Junior Inventors’ Day. The children designed inventions that could both improve the payment experience for fans at future Olympic and Paralympic Games and make them more secure - in real life and the virtual world.

Beatrice was invited back to Visa Europe’s headquarters in London to pitch her winning idea to the company’s brightest minds and gain first-hand insight from a panel of judges including CEO and Co-Founder of NatWest Rooster Money (one of UK’s leading pocket money apps), Will Carmichael, and  Team Visa athlete, Ellis Challis, about making the design as secure and inclusive as possible.

Reflecting on Beatrice’s pitch, Will said, “I think the concept behind the design is absolutely brilliant and puts inclusivity and engagement at the heart of her idea. Beatrice completely embodies the role of Junior Chief Innovation Officer – being confident in her vision, clearly articulating how her ideas could be realised and the value they would provide and getting everyone excited.”

Mehret Habteab, SVP, Head of Product and Solutions at Visa Europe commented: "Beatrice's letter to the IOC and IPC is a testament to Generation Alpha’s new way of thinking. Their expectations are set to revolutionise economies, so it’s vital for any company – from businesses to sporting bodies – to develop innovations which cater for these needs. One way we’re doing this for the Paris 2024 Games is through technologies like Visa Go, a new app for Visa cardholders visiting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, which enables them to gain access to unique experiences with curated local businesses, follow Team Visa athletes, and engage in interactive add-ons.”

With the Olympic Games well underway and the Paralympic Games beginning next week, Visa continues to help bring the spirit of the Olympic Games to life by supporting athletes, engaging fans at venues and at home, and enhancing Paris 2024’s payment experiences for everyone.