I talk a lot on my blog about the basic principles of social media - WOM, community, search, shareability, conversation, ketchup. What I don't often do here is talk about the client work that I do in this area. However, that was before two of my favorite things collided - social media and the Olympics. Hold on to your collectors pins kids...
As a certified Olympic Super Fan and strategist with 360 Digital Influence I was thrilled to begin work with one of our clients, Lenovo, as they launched a social media campaign in support of their Olympic sponoship (which includes the Athletes Village and the Torch Relay.) After several months of work, today - a month before the Games begin on 8/8/08 - we're officially launching Voices of the Olympic Games. The Voices of the Olympic Games site features 100 athlete bloggers from 25 different countries, competing in 28 of the 31 contested sports.
Beijing is arguably the first "Web 2.0" Olympics - where social media (blogs, social networks, and the like) are truly mainstream. More and more people are using such platforms to get, discuss, and share their news -and this summer social media will allow fans an unfiltered look at the Games through the eyes of athletes, fans, coaches, and anyone else who has a connection to the Olympics. For a Super Fan like me getting an up close and personal glimpse into the lives of Olympians is an amazing experience that would not have been possible in any previous Olympic year. No longer do I (or you!) need to wait for a network feature on an athlete - or go digging for information on who is excelling in a non-headline sport.
If you are passionate (or even mildly interested) in the Olympics I encourage you check out the Voices of the Olympic Games site. Follow someone who you might not have been exposed to passively watching the Games - like Seth Kelsey, a fencer from the USA who is in the Air Force and competing through the military's World Class Athlete Program. Check out hilarious multimedia assets you never would have seen from athlete like USA hurdler David Oliver. Get to know Canada's gold medal triathlete Simon Whitfield, and his truly adorable daughter Pip. Follow world-class kayakers, and training partners, Norway's Eirik Veras Larsen and Sweden's Anders Gustafsson. Support first-time bloggers like Australia's oldest Olympian, famed sailor Iain Murray or USA Boxer Deontay Wilder.
Ok, you get the point. Olympics + Social Media = Legen - wait for it - dary.
Kaitlyn,
For what its worth, I'm having a blast on this project with you. Sure enough the hours are long, I don't have weekends and all that stuff, but it's been some real fun!!
Posted by: Esteban | July 13, 2008 at 10:10 AM