Team
Visa’s Asia Pacific full roster includes:
1.
Poppy Starr Olsen (Australia, Skateboarding) |
2.
Ellie Carpenter (Australia, Football) |
3.
Wen, Tzu-yun (Chinese Taipei, Karate) |
4.
Ma Long (China, Table Tennis) |
5.
Chen Long (China, Badminton) |
6.
Chen Aisen (China, Diving) |
7.Shi
Tingmao (China, Diving) |
8. Xiao Ruoteng (China, Gymnastics) |
9.
Cheung Ka-Long (Hong Kong, China, Fencing) |
10.
PV Sindhu (India, Badminton) |
11.
Eko Yuli Irawan (Indonesia, Weightlifting) |
12.
Hajimu Ashida (Japan, Para athletics) |
13.
Ritsu Doan (Japan, Football) |
14. Kanoa Igarashi (Japan, Surfing) |
15. Nozomi Okuhara (Japan, Badminton) |
16.
Rim Nakamura (Japan, BMX – Freestyle) |
17.
Daiya Seto (Japan, Swimming) |
18.
Kanako Watanabe (Japan, Swimming) |
19.
Ayumu Saito (Japan, Fencing /Modern pentathlon) |
20.
Monika Seryu (Japan, Para canoe) |
21.
Na, Ah-reum (Korea, Cycling – Road) |
22.
Oh, Sang-uk (Korea, Fencing) |
23.
Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Malaysia, Diving) |
24.
Munkhbat Urantsetseg (Mongolia, Judo) |
25.
Dame Valerie Adams (New Zealand, Athletics–Shot Put) |
26.
Carlos Yulo (Philippines, Gymnastics) |
27.
Quah Ting Wen (Singapore, Swimming) |
28.
Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand, Badminton) |
Team Visa Program for Tokyo 2020 - By the Numbers:
·
102 athletes, including two Visa employees
from Visa’s Olympians and Paralympians in Business Development Program
·
56 female, 46 male, reinforcing Visa’s
commitment to gender equality in sports, business and beyond
·
54 markets, including 19 with Team Visa
athletes for the first time (Argentina, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, India, and
Thailand, among others)
· 28 sports, including new sports: BMX Freestyle, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, and Surfing
“The resilience and dedication that our Team Visa Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls have shown over the past year is nothing short of inspiring, and watching them turn the uncertainty into resolve is a mindset we can all learn from,” said Lynne Biggar, Chief Marketing Officer, Visa. “We are honored to support Team Visa – and all athletes competing in Tokyo – in what has been a longer than anticipated journey for them, but will undoubtedly remind us of the exceptional strength and character that is required to get there.”
Shining
a Light on The Olympic and Paralympic Mindset
The
resilience and unbreakable spirit of Olympic and Paralympic athletes can be
seen in experiences of veterans and newcomers alike over the past year,
spreading messages of optimism and positivity while staying dedicated to their
training to compete on the world stage in Tokyo:
·
Poppy Starr Olsen (Skateboarding,
Australia)
instead of letting the postponement of the 2020 Olympics get her down, Poppy
took the time in lockdown to grow and build her business and also participated
in Visa’s Where You Shop Matters campaign supporting small businesses in
Australia.
·
PV Sindhu (Badminton, India) took
to Instagram to thank healthcare workers for their hard work during the
pandemic. She also shared her Masterclass at-home workout to help others stay
healthy from home.
·
Ritsu Doan (Football, Japan) in
response to school closures during the lockdown, Ritsu took to Instagram to
cheer students who had important events cancelled such as graduation. He also participated
in the “Stay Home Challenge” with other top athletes, promoting safety measures
and social distancing. He made a donation to support essential workers
fighting against COVID and visited them at a local hospital.
·
Monika Seryu (Para Canoe, Japan) was having
a tough time after the Games were postponed and applauded Team Japan for
motivating and inspiring her to push forward. She also lent her vibrant
personality to Visa’s ”This Isn’t Easy” campaign, inspiring people across the globe to
stay safe during the pandemic.
·
Dame Valerie Adams (Athletics- Shot Put,
New Zealand) joined other prominent New Zealander’s in a video to
unite the country against COVID-19 and encouraged New Zealander’s and the
Pacific community to get informed and get vaccinated. She was also part of
Visa’s Where You Shop Matters campaign supporting small businesses in New
Zealand.
·
Simone Biles (Gymnastics, USA) inspired
global audiences as she became the first woman to land a Yurchenko double pike
vault in competition and, most recently, captured her record-setting 7th
U.S. National Title, which marks one for every senior nationals she’s competed
in since 2013. Off the gym floor, Simone was part of the Athletes for Relief
initiative to benefit the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response
Fund and helped support food insecurity with the Houston Food Bank.
·
Katie Ledecky (Swimming, USA) while
training was suspended, Katie participated in Visa’s social media Public Service
Announcement campaign “This Isn’t Easy”
that
promoted safety measures and social distancing. She also visited children in
hospitals virtually to cheer them up when hospitals were in lockdown.
“When
the decision to postpone the Games was made, I tried to approach with strength
the uncertainties that lay ahead. With the support of my family, friends,
coaches, and sponsors like Visa, I remained optimistic, even if it meant
finding new ways to train – which presented some challenges with aquatic
facilities closed. It also gave me an opportunity to focus on causes close to
my heart, like inspiring my young fans and talking to them about education and
the meaning of perseverance. That was special.”– Katie Ledecky
Empowering
Athletes Beyond the Field of Play
Visa
understands the importance of supporting athletes at the height of their
athletic career, as well as the challenges often faced when transitioning to
the next chapter. Building off its 35-year Olympic and Paralympic partnership,
Visa’s Olympians and
Paralympians in Business Development Program (OPBDP) offers a
two-year rotational program that provides access to a variety of business areas
at Visa, as athletes look to explore a professional career beyond sports.
In
advance of an unprecedented Games, Visa is making history of its own as it
welcomes two OPBDP associates to Team Visa vying for Tokyo 2020: 3x
Olympian Mikel Thomas (Trinidad & Tobago, Athletics) and first-time Paralympian
Ryan Neiswender (USA, Wheelchair basketball).
To
learn more about Visa’s ongoing support of Olympic and Paralympic athletes and
hopefuls, visit Visa’s Olympic and
Paralympic Partnership page.