I just read a blog post photogallery about the 'Most Marketable' Olympians of the Vancouver Olympics. It sorta made me think about how 'important' / 'relevant' / 'irrelevant' the Olympics are. From what I understand, the Olympics have merged into a month long branding experiment. Sorta like an infomercial for a city / country / sport / human / athlete / brand. The Olympic games can provide enough memes to hold the world over for 1 month every year. Fortunately/unfortunately, the internet gives zany sports the opportunity to 'grow', kinda like the curling effect. In the modern world, humans like to talk abt the TV that they are watching while they are chillin on their laptops [via twitter].
Wonder who were the most important Winter Olympic athletes. If I had a Fortune 500 company, would I hire a Winter Olympic athlete who competes every 4 years to 'represent' my brand. Not sure if the Winter Olympics are genuinely inspiring to people. Michael Phelps was a chill summer olympian, but he is known more for being a Tiger Woods-type bro who just loves to do mad drugs and bang strippers + escorts. I would probably just hire an NBA or NFL player if I had a brand that needed an athlete ambassador, but if I lived in some sort of place like Asia or Europe, I might try to 'cut a small deal' with an Olympic athlete who balled over all.
Are winter Olympic athletes marketable?
Charlie White & Meryl Davis, USA ice dancing couple
From what I understand, it will always be 'funny' to make fun of 'flamers prancing around on ice.' Just another fascinating sport where we always struggle to understand how ppl devote their lives' to something so 'absurd.' Ice Dancing is apparently even 'gheyer' than figure skating, since they just dance, and don't do extreme jumps where accidents can happen.
Shani Davis, USA speedskater
This bro is apparently one of the best at his sport of all time, but he is 'too humble' to brand himself like Usain Bolt and Michael Johnson as 'the fastest man in the world.' It seems sad. Sort of want a flamboyant African American diva bro 'pissing off' all of the other irrelevant countries who actually 'care' about the sport. Hopefully the USA starts more innercity speed skating programs.
Cheryl Bernard, Canada (curling)
Curling is apparently the second most popular sport in Canada behind hockey. This female broad has been branded as the 'cougar' of the sport, since she is mad hot + looks like she is down 2 fuck after baking you and your bros some rice krispie treats. I am not sure if curling is an 'alt' sport, or if it more like an SNL digital short starting Andy Samberg--something 'funny' that mainstreamers can rally around.
Mirai Nagasu, USA
From what I understand, America doesn't have any talented female figure skaters right now, but sponsors will probably invest in this girl for the next Olympics. I think it helps that she is AZN because they are more dedicate to 'training', but she probably won't be able to handle 'flopping' if she chokes. I wonder if Dominque Moceanu is the 'gold standard' of lolita female American Olympians.
Joannie Rochette, Canada
I think she had a good Olympics for her long term brand because her mom died, and it made her personal story 400% more compelling. Even though she lost her mom, u can't help but think that her mom is smiling down from heaven, watching her daughter get 'mad endorsement deals.'
Torah Bright, Australia, halfpipe
She apparently chills in the halfpipe [via Shaun White snowboarder]. She is from Australia, and I am not sure if it snows there, so her story might not be very believable. I think Australia just doesn't have very much going on, so they need as many celebs as possible to inspire their nation to believe that they will 'make it' off the island. I feel like the Sydney Olympics was the #1 moment in the history of their country, at least from a branding perspective.
Mao Asada, Japan
She is a figure skater in Japan, and I think this confirms the theory that AZNs are really intrigued by figure skaters and cats. It seems like the ultimate tween sensation in an AZN country would probably be an ice skater who sings jap pop and also has an anime cartoon show. I think that most famous Japanese people get endorsement deals for point and shoot cameras.
Lee Jung-Su, South Korea
One of the most interesting things about the Olympics is when you find out that a country 'cares too much' about a sport that isn't real/doesn't matter. The South Koreans apparently consider speed skating to be their 'national past time.' They h8 the American Apolo Anton Ohno, since he is apparently a cheater who pushes people over in order to win medals. Hopefully North Korea starts a speed skating team so that we can see some 'real drama' go down.
Bode Miller, USA
Bode Miller was marketed by Nike as a skier who 'doesn't care about competition.' He tried to brand himself as the chill bro of professional athletes, then chilled too hard and had a terrible Olympics, making him less marketable. Apparently skiing is 'big in Europe' so he makes 'mad bank' with European brands in the Euro circuit, but we only care about him in America if he wins medals.
