1. August 2011
Sowith a year to go until the London Olympics, stadia near completion, the pressworking themselves up into a frenzy and Team GB pumped and talking up medalhopes those with the foresight to dig deep and part with their marketing dollarto land sponsorship deals are no doubt collectively patting themselves on theirbacks.
As thoughts turn to next July we look forward to the epic battles that willplay out, not just those on the track, field and pitches but also the age-oldbattle between two of the biggest contenders, Adidas and Nike. Adidas, theofficial sponsor and Nike the brand continually associated with the Olympics inthe minds of the public due to the strength of their ambush marketing.
So Adidas will be hoping that their star Idowu will provide the Usain Bolt moment of 2012; theoriginal east ender delivering the goods on home soil, the marketing fairy-talecomplete. No doubt he’ll be climbing onto the rostrum with billions of viewersglued to their sets at home watching the camera slowly pan down to the medalthat hangs round his neck, its golden face depicting Nike the goddess orvictory.
OK, so Nike didn’t really manage to pull off the marketing coup of the centurybut when David Watkins’ designs were revealed last week it must have felt likea bit of a low blow to team Adidas in the battle of the brands.
Paul
