Visa (NYSE:V) today announced its global Team Visa roster for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, comprised of over 40 Olympians and Paralympians from 17 countries, including British snowboarder, Billy Morgan and speed skater, Elise Christie. This team of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls represent a diverse group of individuals representing a range of sports, from snowboarding and speed skating to ski jumping and figure skating.

A global Olympic partner for more than 30 years and Paralympic partner since 2003, Visa founded its Team Visa program in 2000, with the aim of providing athletes with the tools, resources and support they need to achieve their lifelong dreams, both on and off the field of competition, regardless of their origin or background. Today, Team Visa is unified by athletes who embody Visa’s values of acceptance, partnership and inclusion, with athletic talent matched equally by their character.

“We are excited to welcome all of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes to Team Visa and we think this roster is the perfect embodiment of what the Visa brand stands for, as these athletes push boundaries every day in everything they do,” said Suzy Brown, Director of Sponsorships and Partnerships at Visa Europe. “Team Visa athletes remain at the heart of Visa and we are excited to cheer them on in their pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic Gold in PyeongChang.”

The following athletes officially joined Team Visa ahead of PyeongChang 2018:

• Elise Christie (Great Britain, Short Track Speed Skating): A twelve-time World Championship medalist, Elise Christie became the first British Short Track speed skating World champion after she brought home Gold in the 1000m, 1500m and overall events at the 2017 speed skating World Cup. Looking to bounce back from her disappointing results in the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, Elise has her eyes set on the podium in PyeongChang 2018, which will be her third Olympic Winter Games.

• Billy Morgan (Great Britain, Snowboard – Slopestyle & Big Air): Morgan is known across the snowboard community for his aerial acrobatic skills.  One year after competing at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, he became the first-ever snowboarder to land an 1800 quadruple cork, and is one of a select few snowboarders who can land a triple rodeo. After finishing 10th in the Olympic Winter Games debut of slopestyle at Sochi 2014, Morgan will look to reach the podium in both slopestyle and the Olympic Winter Games debut of Big Air at PyeongChang 2018.

 

Additional Team Visa athletes from around the globe include:

• North America:Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, Alpine Skiing), Chloe Kim (USA, Snowboard – Halfpipe), Gus Kenworthy (USA, Freestyle Skiing – Slopestyle & Halfpipe), Hilary Knight (USA, Ice Hockey), Sarah Hendrickson (USA, Ski Jumping), Maggie Voisin (USA, Freestyle Skiing – Slopestyle), David Wise (USA, Freestyle Skiing – Halfpipe), Jamie Anderson (USA, Snowboard – Slopestyle & Big Air), Oksana Masters (USA, Para cross-country skiing & Para biathlon), Mark McMorris (Canada, Snowboard – Slopestyle & Big Air), Travis Gerrits (Canada, Freestyle Skiing – Aerials), Charles Hamelin (Canada, Short Track Speed Skating), Mac Marcoux (Canada, para alpine skiing),Scott Moir (Canada, Figure Skating), Spencer O’Brien (Canada, Snowboard – Slopestyle & Big Air), Tessa Virtue (Canada, Figure Skating)
  • Not Competing: Meryl Davis (USA, Figure Skating), Charlie White (USA, Figure Skating)
  • Retired: Angela Ruggiero (USA, Ice Hockey)

• Asia: Lee, Sang-Hwa (South Korea, Speed Skating), Park Seung-Hi(South Korea, Speed Skating), Beibei Chu (China, Para cross-country skiing), Han Cong (China, Figure Skating), Sui Wenjing (China, Figure Skating), Han Tianyu (China, Short Track Speed Skating), Zhang Yiwei (China, Snowboard – Halfpipe), Sara Takanashi (Japan, Ski Jumping), Noriaki Kasai (Japan, Ski Jumping),  Park, Caroline (South Korea, Ice Hockey), Lee, Sang-Ho (South Korea, Snowboard – Parallel Slalom), Lim, Hyo-Jun (South Korea, Short Track Speed Skating), Jung, Seung-Hwan (South Korea, Para ice hockey) , Michael Christian Martinez (Philippines, Figure Skating)

• Europe:  Kamil Stoch (Poland, Ski Jumping), Ester Ledecka (Czech Republic, Alpine Skiing & Snowboard – Parallel Slalom), Roope Tonteri (Finland, Snowboard – Slopestyle & Big Air), Peter Fill (Italy, Alpine Skiing), Marcus Kleveland (Norway, Snowboard– Slopestyle & Big Air), Maxim Trankov (Russia, Figure Skating), Tatiana Volosozhar (Russia, Figure Skating), Stina Nilsson (Sweden, Cross-Country Skiing), Patrick Burgener (Switzerland, Snowboard – Halfpipe)

• Africa:Brolin Mawejje (Uganda, Snowboard – Slopestyle & Big Air)

• South America:Dominique Ohaco (Chile, Freestyle Skiing – Slopestyle)

Tickets are currently available for purchase directly through the PyeongChang 2018 ticketing website for residents of Korea (including registered Non-Koreans residing in Korea) or through PyeongChang 2018’s Authorized Ticket Resellers for international residents. Starting from November, tickets will also be available on sale at outlets and main ticket centers in Korea. For more information on PyeongChang 2018 tickets, please visit: https://tickets.pyeongchang2018.com.