The Olympic Games reach over a billion people in over two hundred countries. It is one of the most effective marketing platforms in the world. But did you know that support from the business community is crucial to the operations of the Games? Without brand partners the Olympic Games would not become a reality.
Coca-Cola
The first Olympic brand relationship began in Amsterdam at the 1928 Games, when Coca-Cola delivered the U.S. team one thousand cases of cola. The Olympic athletes, officials, and spectators enjoyed the beverages during the Games. The company holds the longest continuous relationship with the Games.
McDonald’s
In the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, McDonald’s apparently airlifted hamburgers to U.S. athletes who reported to be “homesick.” Since then, the company has served multiple versions of its menu to athletes and fans across the world. Recently, McDonald’s has announced its relationship will continue through at least the 2020 Summer Games.
GE
GE provides necessary infrastructure solutions for the Olympic venues. These include power, lighting, water treatment, and transportation. In addition, GE supplies local hospitals with diagnostic imaging equipment and healthcare technology solutions like ultrasound, MRIs, and electronic medical-record technologies to help doctors treat athletes. It is obvious that the Olympic Games would not run smoothly without its partnership with GE.