Visa Olympians Reunion Center.
Sun 10th August, 2008
By Kirsten Hunt
It was a beautiful night in Beijing as we made our way to Chaoyang Park to the Olympians Reunion Center at Prince Jun Palace. As we entered the magnificent gates to the palace, one could only wonder what was in store for that evening. Co-founded by Visa and the World Olympians Association, the Olympians Reunion Center is a place where Olympians from past Games can go and reunite with friends and enjoy the sporting events of the Games in an exclusive setting.
As guests of Visa, we were invited to share in the experience and soak up some Chinese culture as well. The setting was like a scene from a movie…. beautiful buildings with intricate architecture, exotic gardens, winding passageways and foot bridges taking guests around the grounds. After mingling and wandering about, we found ourselves suddenly mesmerized by authentic Chinese music, to which captivating acrobats dressed in Chinese dragon costumes amazed guests with their daring and beautiful moves.
After a welcome address from Visa and Dick Fosbury, the newly appointed head of the WOA, guests were treated to food and drinks and continued to enjoy this special evening under the Beijing skies. It was a wonderful night, uniting athletes, sponsors and guests all while showcasing a powerful entertainment and engagement experience.
The real learning is about adding value – Visa provides a valuable drop-in center for past and present athletes away from the media glare. For athletes it’s a chance to catch up with past Games acquaintances and adversaries. For VIPs, it’s a chance to get close to athletes in a very relaxed but exclusive environment.
Visa like a number of other sponsors – Coke, adidas and Haier – have worked hard to create owned venues and experiences that sit outside of some of the officially accredited zones like the Olympic Green. Something that is important in light of the fact access to some of these official sites have been restricted to manage footfall and security.
