Operated by the Greater London Authority (GLA), the London Media Centre at One Great George Street off Parliament Square, will offer a number of services to journalists from across the world throughout the Games, including a state of the art reporting and distribution facilities and a central London location.

The London Media Centre will also be proactively producing and distributing content to journalists using the centre about the wider London 2012 story on topics such as tourism, finance, economics, lifestyle and technology.

The non-accredited media will be unable to access Olympic venues so the London Media Centre will act as a hub for these journalists looking to tell wider stories about London and the UK in and around Games time.

Visa plan to use their sponsorship to showcase its mobile and contactless payment innovations at the Games and produce regular reports on economic impact and consumer spending during Games time as well as providing access to the wide range of athletes in Team Visa.

"As a global sponsor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games we are proud to announce our additional sponsorship of the London Media Centre," said Colin Grannell, head of partnership marketing at Visa Europe.

"We will be sharing our latest news on contactless and mobile payments innovation in and around the Games direct to journalists based at the Centre, as well as showcasing payments technology.

"We're working closely with the Greater London Authority to make sure it is the best possible base for non-accredited media throughout the Games."

The GLA has also launched a search for official partners for sponsorship of the London Media Centre, at the cost of £120,000 ($187,000/€144,000) each.

"With the eyes of the world looking towards London next summer, the 2012 Games will be a major opportunity for firms to promote their brands to audiences right across the globe," said London Mayor Boris Johnson.

"It is fantastic to have Visa on board through their sponsorship of the London Media Centre, which will play host to thousands of journalists who will be here to tell the story of what will be the greatest show on earth."

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