Partly because the Olympics is, well, the Olypmics. But perhaps the heightened interest is a positive result of the negative news surrounding the Games this year. The scare of the Zika virus, drama with athlete housing and even reports of water pollution have brought unfortunate attention to the event, leading to a great deal of news coverage before the Games even began, and ongoing curiosity about how things will continue to play out.
Explain it as you will, but the question for us is: how well have advertisers taken advantage of the attention they’re receiving?
Pretty well, we would say. In a selection of commercials that rivals the Super Bowl, brands are eliciting the full spectrum of emotions and asking viewers to “feel all the things.” Motivation, amusement, waterworks – you have it.
Here are five commercials that so far, are knocking it out of the Olympic Park.
Featuring some of the most recognizable athletes from the summer Olympic Games – Usain Bolt, Serena Williams, Paul George and April Ross – this ad simultaneously inspires and warms the heart with its depiction of each athlete being supported by their inner kid who never lost the love of the game. The ad not only builds on the personal inspiration that the Olympics elicits in viewers, but it also ties in perfectly with Gatorade’s tagline, “for the love of sports.”
To the famous words of poet Maya Angelou, this commercial carries on the simple but effective “shot on iPhone” advertising. Vibrant and stunning photos speak for themselves to sell the product, while illustrating the message of Angelou’s powerful and timeless words. “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”
“It takes someone strong to make someone strong.” This isn’t the first “Thank You Mom” ad we’ve seen from P&G, but it might be the most powerful. Created by Wieden+Kennedy, the ad shows how the mothers of athletes were there to support their children not just in athletics, but in life, providing strength in difficult and frightening situations.
It’s long, but it’s worth it. Watch Nike take “Just Do It” to a whole new level in the second ad of the brand’s “Unlimited” campaign. Also created by Wieden+Kennedy, we hear narrator Star Wars actor Oscar Isaac encourage everyday people to push themselves and reach their full potential. They do… and more. In an unexpected and humorous turn of events, the narrator’s tone changes from motivational to apprehensive as athletes shatter expectations.
To the comforting cadence of Morgan Freeman’s voice, Visa takes a stand with refugee Olympic athletes in this inspiring commercial that tells the story of one in particular. Yusra Mardini helped to swim a boat of refugees to safety in 2015, and is now swimming on the ten-person refugee team in the Olympic Games. In this 30-second spot created by BBDO New York, Visa provides an inspiring call to action by asking viewers to “show her the world is behind her.”
Those are our picks. Which ad would you put on top of the medal stand? Comment on our Facebook page and let us know!
