Past Olympic Games
Visa has been a global Olympic sponsor since 1986 and a worldwide Paralympic sponsor since 2002. Here’s a snapshot of the past Olympic Games, from Calgary in 1988 to Torino in 2006.
2006 Olympic Games: Torino, Italy
A record 2,508 athletes from 80 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competed at the Torino Olympic Winter Games, and a record 26 NOCs took home medals.
2004 Olympic Games: Athens, Greece
During the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, a sporting event was held in the ancient Olympia Stadium for the first time in modern history.
2002 Olympic Winter Games: Salt Lake City, USA
Even though men’s bobsleigh has been an Olympic sport since 1924, women’s bobsleigh was included for the first time at these Olympic Games.
2000 Olympic Games: Sydney, Australia
By winning the 400 meters, the host country's Cathy Freeman, Australia's first aboriginal Track and Field athlete, claims the country's 100th Olympic Gold Medal.
1998 Olympic Winter Games: Nagano, Japan
U.S. figure skater Tara Lipinski, 15, becomes the youngest woman to win a Gold Medal at the Olympic Winter Games.
1996 Olympic Games: Atlanta, USA
USA Track & Field athlete Carl Lewis wins his fourth Gold Medal in the long jump, giving him a total of nine Gold Medals for his Olympic career.
1994 Olympic Winter Games: Lillehammer, Norway
The host country's Johann Olav Koss sets three world records and wins three Gold Medals in speed skating.
1992 Olympic Games: Barcelona, Spain
Vitaly Scherbo of the Unified team takes six Gold Medals in men's gymnastics, including four in one day.
1992 Olympic Winter Games: Albertville, France
France joins the U.S. as the only nation to host the Olympic Winter Games three times.
1988 Olympic Games: Seoul, South Korea
Tennis returns to the Olympic Games for the first time in 64 years; Steffi Graf wins the women's title.
1988 Olympic Winter Games: Calgary, Canada
Jamaica makes its Olympic Winter Games debut with a four-man bobsled team.