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MasterCard kicks-off World Cup 2002 sponsorship activity

Waterloo, Belgium (ots)
MasterCard World Cup spokesman Pelé announces plans for the
World's largest 'Viewing Party'
MasterCard cardholders across Europe "will not miss out"
Fans travelling to Japan and Korea guaranteed MasterCard service
throughout World Cup
MasterCard International - a top tier sponsor for the FIFA 2002
World Cup, has announced its sponsorship plans for the championship,
key to which will be the hosting of the world's largest World Cup
Final 'Viewing Party' to be held in Southern Europe.
Speaking after the World Cup 2002 Draw in Busan, Korea, Pelé said,
"With the draw over, plans can now be made for the teams and their
supporters alike. Europe's done a fantastic job at hosting the last
two FIFA championships, which doesn't mean to say that its' fans need
miss out when the action shifts to Japan and Korea next June. Our
determination is for as many European MasterCard cardholders, more
than 73 million, to know that football really is 'on the cards'.
Afterall, it's the people's game and our ambition is to 'bring the
people to the game and the game to the people'."
The MasterCard sponsorship approach kicks off with two key  goals
  • The first will be to reassure those cardholders lucky enough to be travelling to Japan or Korea that they will be able to access their money - no matter where and when.
  • The second focuses on a number of initiatives run in conjunction with member banks across Europe. Well over 73 million cardholders will have the opportunity to take advantage of a series of World Cup related activities, the most important of which will be the chance to win an all-expenses paid weekend for two in southern Europe and tickets to the world's largest Cup Final 'Viewing Party'.
The MasterCard 'Priceless Viewing Party' will coincide with the
Cup Final weekend with the match broadcast live to approximately 600
guests, in a setting which will attempt to bring to Europe just some
of the excitement from the Yokahama stadium in Japan.
"Whether our cardholders are lucky enough to travel to support
their teams or not, MasterCard will be behind them all the way" said
Peter Hoch, Director and CEO of Europay International, MasterCard's
partner in Europe. "Our aim is to ensure our cardholders get the most
out of lifes' priceless moments. In sponsorship terms, this means
more than just placing our logo around a football pitch. It means
reaching out to existing and potential cardholders around the world,
particularly here in Europe, with initiatives that bring them closer
to their game.
"Moreover, we take our sponsorship role seriously and in 2002 we
will be looking to build upon the decade of experience we have as a
key FIFA sponsor. What MasterCard brings to football as a World Cup
sponsor is second only to what the Championship itself brings to its
enthusiasts around the world." concluded Peter Hoch.
As an additional part of its official sponsorship, MasterCard will
be offering an interactive website designed to bring football fans
from around the globe closer to the World Cup action next summer.
Locally adapted versions of this new website, to be officially
unveiled during the FIFA World Cup Draw in Busan, Korea, will
initially launch in Japan (www.mastercard.co.jp) and Korea
(www.global.mastercard.com/kr), while a global English language
version can be found at (www.mastercard.com/fifaworldcup). The site's
focus on community, entertainment and information offers something
for everyone.
As a component of its overall alliance with FIFA, MasterCard is
implementing regional and global card usage initiatives to benefit
FIFA's charity of choice, UNICEF. MasterCard cardholders worldwide
will have an opportunity to assist UNICEF via purchases made online
at www.fifaworldcup.com next year.
In addition, the MasterCard 2002 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team, a
program implemented with FIFA to determine the top players of the
tournament, will benefit UNICEF via donations made by MasterCard in
honour of the selected All-Stars. Through the end of the 2002 FIFA
World Cup, MasterCard will have donated approximately $1 million
through several programs, including a number of FIFA World Cup themed
initiatives.
- - -
Fact Sheet
If you're in Japan and Korea
MasterCard is the most widely accepted credit card in Japan with
more than  2,400,000 merchants across the country accepting
MasterCard to pay for goods and services. In Korea this figure is
doubled, with more than 5,600,000 shops, hotels, restaurants and
other merchants all accepting MasterCard.
Accessing your money via an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)
If it's yens you're after then one of the easiest ways is to use
your MasterCard or Cirrus card to draw out cash just as easily as you
would do at home.
In Japan, well over 22,000 ATMs are available in post offices and
around major train stations, major department stores, and banks.
In Korea there are near to 2,000 ATMs available. They can be found
in most subway stations including every major subway station in
Korea's capital, Seoul. Also, the Korea Exchange Bank (KEB), one of
Korea's largest banks, provides MasterCard ATM service at all of its
340 branches.  By December 2001, Kookmin Bank will install MasterCard
ATMs at all of their 600 branches.  MasterCard publishes the exact
location of its ATMs in free travel magazines, such as Korea Rainbow
and the Beetle Map Experience Korea.
ATM locator - check on the web before you go
Once you know the address of your hotel in either Japan or Korea,
access the "ATM locator" on the MasterCard website
(www.mastercard.com) to obtain the exact location of your nearest ATM
during your stay.
Global Service Number
24 hours 7 days a week, you can contact the Global Service Desk
for emergency assistance if your MasterCard card is lost or stolen.
In Japan, call: (toll free) 00531-11-3886 In Korea, call: (toll free)
0079-811-887-0823
Note to the Editor:
MasterCard International has a comprehensive portfolio of
well-known, widely accepted payment brands including MasterCard(,
Cirrus(, and Maestro(. More than 1.7 billion MasterCard, Cirrus and
Maestro logos are present on credit, charge and debit cards in
circulation today. An association comprised of more than 20,000
member financial institutions, MasterCard serves consumers and
businesses, both large and small, in 210 countries and territories.
MasterCard is a leader in quality and innovation, offering a wide
range of payment solutions in the virtual and traditional worlds.
MasteCard's award-winning Priceless( advertising campaign is now seen
in 80 countries and in more than 40 languages, giving the MasterCard
brand a truly global reach and scope. With more than 22 million
acceptance locations, no card is accepted in more places and by more
merchants than the MasterCard card. At June 30 2001, gross dollar
volume exceeded US$458 billion. MasterCard can be reached through its
World Wide Web site at http://www.mastercard.com.
MasterCard & the FIFA World Cup
MasterCard International began its alliance with FIFA World Cup in
1990 as the Official Card and Official Product Licensee of Italia
1990. Based on the success of the original sponsorship platform,
MasterCard elevated its stature by signing on as an Offical FIFA
Sponsor of a comprehensive package of tournaments played around the
world that culminates with the FIFA World Cup. Since then, MasterCard
has been an Official Sponsor of 1994 FIFA World Cup (USA), 1998 FIFA
World Cup (France), and the 1999 Women's World Cup (USA).
Europay International, headquartered in Waterloo, Belgium, is
Europe's leading payments organisation, dedicated to providing a
tailored product range and support services to its more than 9,000
Member banks.  At present, 283.2 million cards
(Eurocard(r)-MasterCard(r), Maestro(r), Cirrus(r) and eurocheque)
provide European and global debit and credit card services, and offer
cash access to Europe's largest network of more than 305,500 ATMs in
43 countries.  Through its alliance with MasterCard International,
over 600,000 ATMs and close to 21 million retail locations worldwide
accept Europay products.  Europay's website at www.europay.com gives
a detailed view on the company's products and services and shows how
Europay offers its Member banks both support and leadership on issues
including virtual commerce, chip technology, security & risk
management, and the advent of the euro.

Contact:

Louise Herbert
Press Manager
Tel. +32/2/352'56'47
Fax +32/2/352'57'32
E-Mail: Clhe@europay.com

Martine Prim
European Sponsorship PR
Tel. +32/2/352'52'37
Fax +32/2/352'56'45
E-Mail: Map@europay.com