Part 2 - Remembering the Summer Olympics of 2024

​Do you remember the Paris Summer Olympics? It seems like yesterday, yet so long ago. I checked, the closing ceremonies ended Sunday, August 11, 2024.
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This post isn’t about athletic events or the athletes who made the games special. It’s something that caught my eyes and ears when the games started, and it’s what I miss the most. The inspiration they gave me, and the insight only they could share.

So what was it? The Olympic commercials! Four of them were SO good! They’re worth dusting off and spotlighting again.

                                     Next up – the commercial with the best use of athletic equipment . . .

Commercial #2 – The One With the Best Use of Athletic Equipment: Do you remember a commercial that featured a few well-known athletes swinging, hitting, or shooting to the beat? They were swinging to Hollywood Swingin.’ If you don’t know the song, that’s OK. I didn’t recognize it either, and Kool and the Gang is still one of my favorite groups. BTW – their songs were popular in the 1980’s when I was young.

Still not ringing a bell? The ad was for New Balance shoes so I googled/searched ‘new balance olympic ad.’ Look below, and you’ll see it in the search window. Now go down to New Balance TV Spot – it’s in blue, and it’s a link. Click and move down on this screen, yours too.

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​When you clicked on New Balance, did you get this screen? Yay! You’re in the right place! Do you see the large gray box with the white triangle? That’s the video. Click on it, and enjoy! Then come back for one last question.

​OK, two questions! Do you like the commercial? I do! And did you notice that someone swings a racquet or shoots a basket on the beat? That’s when Kool and the Gang sing, “Hey, Hey, Hey?”

That’s what impressed me . . . This ad is SO clever! To think of how to showcase those athletes, and do it to the beat of the song. Impressive!

PS – I’m so old I didn’t recognize any of those athletes, but I bet you did. At least I’d heard of Coco Gauff, but I’ve never watched her play tennis.

                 Tomorrow – another classic song that’s about sportsmanship and a little bit of love