What was your favorite Olympic and Paralympic moment?
David Rudisha winning the men’s 800 meters at London 2012. He won in such a definite style and broke the world record. He was mentally and physically on top of his game. The single best performance, not just in athletics, that I’ve seen at the Olympic Games.
Sebastian Coe, Non-Executive Chairman
What was your favorite Olympic and Paralympic moment?
Para swimmer Daniel Diaz from Brazil won gold at the Paralympics at London 2012. It was a highly emotional moment, and then taking the tube back to London with his mother who boarded the carriage to a round of applause, wearing her son’s flower wreath. It was amazing to see her celebrated as much as her son. I don’t think there was a dry eye that journey.
Natalie MacLean, Senior Manager, Brands, Middle East
What was your favorite Olympic and Paralympic moment?
Watching the Opening Ceremony at Tokyo 2020, and in particular watching the drone show. It looked spectacular seeing the sky light up at night.
Emma Kodaka, Manager, CSM Live, UK
What was your favorite Olympic and Paralympic moment?
I wasn’t yet born when gymnast Nadia Comaneci scored a perfect 10 in the 1976 Olympics but during my childhood I saw “Nadia” the TV movie about her journey and became obsessed. My sister and I watched that movie on repeat and choreographed our own gymnastic routines that we performed over and over.
Kathryn Foreman, Vice President, Consulting, North America
What was your favorite Olympic and Paralympic moment?
This is an easy one. I am a huge ice hockey fan. Although I was only nine years old, watching the US Men’s Ice Hockey team defeat the heavily favored Russian team is by far my favorite Olympic moment.
JG Robilotti – Senior Vice President, Brands, North America
What was your favorite Olympic and Paralympic moment?
Bradley Wiggins sitting on his golden throne with his golden medal at London 2012 after he triumphed in the cycling time trial.
Sam Goodwin – Managing Director, CSM Live, Australia
What was your most memorable experience working at the games?
In the lead up to Vancouver 2010 I called people who applied to be in the Torch Relay to tell them they had been selected to carry the Olympic Flame. It is the sort of contest people never expect to win. Making those calls and hearing people’s reactions was hugely rewarding.
Kathryn Foreman, Vice President, Consulting, North America
What was your most memorable experience working at the games?
During the Atlanta Olympics, I worked on tennis and got to “feed” Andre Agassi balls during his practice session. Then for the Paralympics, I had the opportunity to hit balls and practice with world number 1 men’s wheelchair player. It was a humbling and exhilarating experience as he slammed shots past me.
JG Robilotti, Senior Vice President, Brands, North America
What was your most memorable experience working at the games?
There are so many things because London 2012 was 10 years of my life, from bidding to hosting. For me, it was the extraordinary collaboration in delivering the Games. Politicians became one, which was unusual. Communities that didn’t have things in common were unified. The volunteers were amazing. Global sports is the best demonstration of multi-culturalism.
Sebastian Coe, Non-Executive Chairman
What was your most memorable experience working at the games?
Working with the McDonald’s team on Vancouver 2010 and realizing 18 months in that I had been working with the real Ronald McDonald. I had no idea until he came in for the Opening Ceremony in full character!
Natalie MacLean, Senior Manager, Brands, Middle East
Tell us about your favorite brand campaign.
One of my favourite brand campaigns was from P&G – #LeadwithLove and its tag line “we can be the people you taught us to be”. It’s an emotive campaign sharing the importance of hard work and patience. It also acknowledges the efforts of the supportive people around the athletes, reinforcing that love can help drive athletes to greatness. It is something to take into everyday life as well.
Emma Kodaka, Manager, CSM Live, UK
Tell us about your favorite brand campaign.
It is and always will be Channel 4 and its “Meet the Superhumans” campaign. It changed the way the Paralympics will be seen forever, and changed also people’s perceptions of the broadcaster.
Sam Goodwin, Managing Director, CSM Live, Australia
Tell us about your favorite brand campaign.
I tend to love the fun and the quirky. Innocent Drinks stand out with its tongue-in-cheek tone-of-voice, and how well it reacts in real-time. Its campaign which translated 50-everyday activities into Olympic events stands out. The passive aggressive emailing addition really made me laugh.
Natalie MacLean, Senior Manager, Brands, Middle East
Tell us about your favorite brand campaign.
I have two.
I adore P&G’s ‘Thank You, Mom’ campaign. It gives me chills. Every. Single. Time.
Citi’s thought provoking #StareAtGreatness Paralympic campaign encouraging people to stare at global para athletes for their athletic achievements, to help change the perceptions of people with disabilities.
Kathryn Foreman, Vice President, Consulting, North America
Tell us about your favorite brand campaign.
Under Armour and ‘Rule Yourself.’ Michael Phelps. In the pool. Doing the hard yards. Reminding us that what you do in the dark, will put you into the light. A brilliant campaign.
JG Robilotti, Senior Vice President, Brands, North America
What opportunities are there for brands to activate around Paris 2024?
The Olympics is about athletes and countries coming together. In this current political climate and living in a COVID world, brands that can truly capture the positive and togetherness spirit of the Games will be the ones that resonate with consumers.
JG Robilotti, Senior Vice President, Brands, North America
What opportunities are there for brands to activate around Paris 2024?
Sustainability, diversity and inclusion are increasingly important. Sport has the unique power to bring all together, and especially at the Olympics. While this presents great opportunities for the brands, it also brings pressure on them to deliver in a way that’s authentic. Brands can only tell a true story when they’ve first figured it out close to home within the organization, otherwise the campaign and the brand can be very vulnerable.
Sebastian Coe, Non-Executive Chairman
What opportunities are there for brands to activate around Paris 2024?
Following the pandemic, brands need to go big with hospitality and activations. Fans will be ready for in-person Olympic celebrations. As the hybrid activation model becomes more prominent, brands should also go above and beyond to engage fans at home by including virtual opportunities to provide access for those that can’t be in-person.
Kathryn Foreman, Vice President, Consulting, North America
What opportunities are there for brands to activate around Paris 2024?
The Games will provide some thrilling and interesting opportunities for brands to activate around, for example the unique location of the Opening Ceremony. The introduction of new sports focusing on a younger audience also gives another opportunity for brands to target a different audience.
Emma Kodaka, Manager, CSM Live, UK
What opportunities are there for brands to activate around Paris 2024?
Creating a visual moment in Paris that links the brand, the city and the Olympics will provide an image that will stay impactful forever. This could be a huge banner installation, a projection, or some other kind of stunt (e.g. a crowd ‘billboard’ beneath the Eiffel Tower). The time, expense and creativity will be rewarded with something that endures because it existed at that moment, in that place.
Sam Goodwin, Managing Director, CSM Live, Australia
What are the one or two things that you most look forward to at Paris 2024?
Having the whole thing on the river magnifies the risk of things going wrong, but if it is done right, it has the potential to be amazing. Either way – done wrong or right – it will be remembered.
Sam Goodwin, Managing Director, CSM Live, Australia
What are the one or two things that you most look forward to at Paris 2024?
I am interested in what they are doing for the Opening Ceremony, with a festival floating down the Seine it will be accessible to 600,000 spectators. Taking the Games to the public with that level of engagement is going to be important for the Olympic Movement. I am also looking forward to seeing how Paris24 is going to connect the rest of the country to the city of Paris. You want people across the length and breadth of the country to have a stake in the Games.
Sebastian Coe, Non-Executive Chairman
What are the one or two things that you most look forward to at Paris 2024?
I am looking forward to seeing how the ‘Olympic bubble’ will envelop the city and how it will bring people from all walks of life and countries together to celebrate sport and culture.
Natalie MacLean, Senior Manager, Brands, Middle East
What are the one or two things that you most look forward to at Paris 2024?
I really enjoyed watching the new sports that were added last time so I am looking forward to watching Break Dancing in Paris, for the first time. I think it is exciting to see how the Olympics has evolved over time.
Emma Kodaka, Manager, CSM Live, UK
