BEIJING—Twenty-two Filipino Visa card-holders are in Beijing enjoying the action in the 29th Olympic Games.

The 22 Filipinos, according to Visa Philippines country manager Bob Joubert, are among the 6,000 Visa partners and cardholders, half of whom are from the Asia-Pacific.

“They have won travel and event packages to the Olympic Games through the region’s ‘Win A Trip to the Games’ cardholder promotions,” said Joubert. “They, thus, got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the Games.”

The cardholder promotions were supported by the regional Olympic-themed advertising campaign that starred international movie star Jackie Chan and Olympic hurdles champion and Team Visa athlete Liu Xiang.

Visa has also sponsored a photo contest for cardholders, the “Visa Moving Images.” The cardholders are encouraged to capture in film their own interpretation of the competition theme built around the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” said Joubert.

Visa has been a top sponsor of the Olympic Games for 22 years. It is the exclusive card of the Beijing edition, meaning Visa is the only card accepted at all Games venues for any official Games-related transaction.

“We believe that the Olympic spirit and the Olympic Games are unique in their ability to bring people, communities and nations together peacefully to compete in sport[s], encourage dialogue and foster better goodwill,” said Joubert.

“Visa’s support of the Olympic Games serves the dual purpose of fostering Olympic spirit and building our business.”

The Olympic Games, Joubert added, “are an ideal platform for Visa to grow our business and deliver tangible value merchants, cardholders and our financial institution clients.”

Joubert added: “By harnessing our global reach, marketing experience and customer relationships, Visa is in a unique position to create short- and long-term value not only for the host city but for many of the markets in which we do business. It’s linking the Visa family to the Olympic family. By reaching out to cardholders through our financial institution clients, Visa has an opportunity to bring the magic of the Olympic Games to the fans that support the efforts of their favorite athletes.”

As a worldwide Olympic partner, Visa will continue to be the exclusive payment card and official payment service of the Olympic Games through 2012, including the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games and the London 2012 Summer Games. 

Tshomlee eyes repeat over Aussie

BEIJING—The country’s eyes will all be on Tshomlee Go beginning at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday when he opens his campaign for an Olympic gold medal in taekwondo against Australian Ryan Carneli at the University of Science and Technology Gymnasium.

Left knee buckles, frustrates Torres

BEIJING—Maristella Torres was in high spirits, vowing to make the best out of her first Olympics stint. But her flesh, particularly her left knee, didn’t cooperate.

Ramirez stresses ‘revolutionary’ change

PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez has reiterated that changes which he called “revolutionary” should be done to Philippine sports after the Olympics.

Visa benefits 22 Filipinos

BEIJING—Twenty-two Filipino Visa card-holders are in Beijing enjoying the action in the 29th Olympic Games.

Ma Jian, now a stadium boss, remembers ‘Jawo’

BEIJING—Remember Ma Jian?

Ma was a member of the Chinese men’s national basketball team that Filipino cage stars in the late 1980s and early 1990s dreaded.

Far Eastern Games helped build up China

CHINA has definitely gone a long way in sports since it first participated in an international competition in Manila 95 years ago.

‘I HAD NO CHOICE’

BEIJING—Liu Xiang, China’s great hope for track glory at the Beijing Games, said he was sorry for his dramatic withdrawal from the Olympics, but that he had no choice because pain from a foot injury became unbearable.

Just Another Fan

BEIJING—If the basketball competition is assuming an old pattern, with the United States dominating and attention shifting elsewhere, the US players, superstars all, are still the lives of this party.

Ask Coach E: Going international

This writer is not so much a music fan, but as a Filipino it was a joy to learn that two Filipinos attracted the American eyes, or ears, for that matter, through the cyberspace.