For Olympic Games wrap stories - International Visa card spending in British
Columbia tops US$100 million during the Games

VANCOUVER, Feb. 28 /CNW/ - According to Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), spending by international visitors on Visa cards at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and in British Columbia so far has topped US$100 million during the Games.

Total foreign spend since the beginning of the Games on Visa now stands at US$101.7 million. Since the Opening Ceremony on Friday, 12 February 2010, through to Friday 26 February 2010, international Visa cardholder spending in British Columbia was up 93 percent compared to the same 14 days last year.

On Friday 26 February 2010, the total number of transactions on overseas issued Visa cards in British Columbia surpassed the one million mark. The total number of transactions during this period is also up 85 per cent compared to the same period the year before.

Top ten spend markets since the opening of the Games:

    
    -  United States of America
    -  China
    -  United Kingdom
    -  Australia
    -  Russia Federation
    -  Japan
    -  South Korea
    -  Hong Kong
    -  Norway
    -  Germany
    

There are now 14 countries that have spent more than US$1 million in British Columbia since the Games opened on Visa and nine have exceed the US $2 million mark. A more detailed report will be issued by Visa within three days of the end of the Games.

For further information: concerning Visa and the Olympic Games, please contact Nancy Panter at [phone] or Teri Broughton at [phone]