Going for Gold: How Visa's partnerships are driving growth and facilitating innovation

Over 40 years of Visa’s partnership with The Olympic Games (and 20+ years with The Paralympic Games) that has driven innovation and impact for the people, businesses and economies of host cities. As we head into Paris 2024 again as the Official Payment Technology Partner of the Games, Visa remains committed to innovation, empowering people and businesses to become even more open and connected.

Partnering for progress

Over the course of nearly four decades, Visa continue to be an influential enabler of the Games and their societal impact. Their continuous commitment to ground-breaking payment solutions, since 1986, has had a positive effect on host cities and helped to advance digital payments around the world. From London 2012, where Visa enabled contactless payments for the first time, which acted as a catalyst for integrating contactless into society, to Rio 2016 where Visa worked with merchants to combine effortless fashion with effortless payments, allowing payments to be made through wearables with an NFC chip. These revolutionary advancements at the Games have given both consumers and businesses more secure and convenient ways of paying.

Partnership for Paris 2024

Here are some of the ways we're partnering with French businesses to innovate together, driving amazing customer experiences, business growth and value for the French economy as we look towards this year Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Seamless Commerce with Lagardère Travel Retail

Together in partnership with Lagardère we have introduced a seamless payments journey for consumers. Alongside this, the introduction of contactless payments in several French cities is enabling sustainable and interconnected travel across the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Winning Payments

In Visa’s continued commitment to support and uplift SMBs globally and to create the most inclusive and sustainable Games, Visa is organizing a national game to support and champion SMBs in France. Where for each eligible payment with a Visa payment card at participating retailers, consumers can be in with a chance to win tickets to Paris 2024 and prepaid Visa cards and in turn are championing the local SMBs. Find out more here.

Visa Go App

In the spirit of the theme “Pas Sans Vous,” or “Not Without You,” Visa is taking action to ensure everyone, everywhere can participate in Paris 2024 through the Visa Go app. This app allows Visa cardholders to receive exclusive content, unique experiences and updates on their favourite Team Visa athletes throughout the Games. Complementing ‘The winning payments’ scheme the app will also offer a curated selection of discounts and offers from official partners and local shops and restaurants. Fans can purchase a virtual Visa prepaid card through Visa Go, if needed.

The partnership now

As this year’s Games pledge to be the most sustainable and inclusive to date. We are striving to create the biggest positive societal and global economic impact possible. We are proud to see the projection that Paris 2024 will generate €10.7 billion in economic benefits and create 250,000 jobs in the Île-de-France region¹

Combining the strengths of Visa and the Games has helped foster innovations through the years for more impactful positive outcomes, enabling people, businesses and economies to thrive for years to come.