Olympics Fans Can Wax Nostalgic on Visa Microsite

Visa’s newly launched “Go World” Olympics campaign will put international sports fans in the picture when they’ll soon be able to post short messages recounting their most memorable Olympics moments.

Fans can upload video, audio or submit a written account of the Olympic recollection. The feature, currently undergoing internal beta testing, is expected to be added next month. Visa will maintain the interactive feature on the microsite at http://usa.visa.com/microsites/goworld/ through the course of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics in August.

Current U.S. Olympics competitors and legendary athletes including epic record-setting long jumper Bob Beamon, high jumper Dick Fosbury of ‘Fosbury flop’ fame and multi-sport threat Jim Thorpe will be featured on the site and in ad spots that began airing this week.

“We’re proud of our involvement in the Olympic Games,” said Visa spokesperson Nancy Panter. “We look forward to getting people excited about the Olympic Games.”

The TV campaign kicked off this week with spots featuring gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps, Paralympic track and field gold medalist Cheri Blauwet, gold medal gymnast Kerri Strug and sprinter Derek Redmond were featured in the initial ads. The spots briefly relate their individual stories, including Strug and Redmond both overcoming career-threatening injuries to compete in the Olympics.

TWA Chiat Day LA developed and produced the TV ads.

Visa is posting online ads to bring eyeballs to its Olympics microsite, which will also feature ‘Team Visa Beijing’ athletes, including track and field standouts Bryan Clay and Allyson Felix, gymnasts Paul Hamm and Nastia Liukin, swimmer Katie Hoff, Paralympics track and field athlete Marlon Shirley and Beach volleyballer Karri Walsh.

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