LAHORE - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Saturday announced an extension to its current partnership with Visa Inc through to 2020. The announcement was made at a signing ceremony held today in Moscow, Russia, which was attended by IOC President Jacques Rogge, Group President, Visa Inc Rupert Keeley and President and CEO of Sochi 2014 Dmitry Chernyshenko. In renewing its sponsorship, Visa will retain the rights it has enjoyed since 1986 and remain the exclusive payment services sponsor and the only card accepted at the four Olympic Games that follow London 2012 Olympic Games, including the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the 2020 Olympic Summer Games. The Olympic Games deliver tremendous global exposure and access to virtually every demographic group, said Antonio Lucio, Chief Marketing Officer of Visa Inc. The Olympic Games also deliver tangible and proven business building benefits to Visa, its clients and partners. Client activation around the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, which involved more than 573 clients in 41 countries, illustrates the universal appeal of this marquee property. In 1986, Visa became one of the founding members of the Worldwide TOP Partner programme. The announcement means Visa will continue as the exclusive payment services sponsor for the Olympic Games and the only card accepted through to 2020. IOC President Jacques Rogge said: Our partnership with Visa demonstrates a shared commitment to the future of youth and sport, to the future of the Olympic Games and to the strengthening of the Olympic ideals and values we respect. On behalf of the IOC, the 205 National Olympic Committees around the world and the athletes themselves, I would like to thank Visa, its clients and partners for their commitment through to the 2020 Olympic Games. Chairman of the IOC Marketing Commission Gerhard Heiberg said: The staging of the Olympic Games, as well as the operations of the Olympic Movement as a whole, would not be possible without the support of our TOP Partners and we are delighted that Visa will continue to be a key partner for the Olympic Movement. As an organisation, Visa is a leader not only in the world of global payment technology, but also in its support for sports events and athletes around the world. CEO and President, Visa Inc Joseph Saunders said: The Olympic Games transcend political and geographical boundaries to deliver incomparable international exposure and broad-based audience interest appealing to virtually every demographic. They stand as one of the premier sporting and cultural events in the world and we are delighted to extend our sponsorship through to 2020.