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.

Why commercials? Because they boil a message down to 30 seconds, and you get it in sound, with images in living color. Commercials are an art form!
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                                          Now - the first one I'm highlighting. It was actually the last one I noticed.
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Commercial #1 – Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes: Do you remember the song from Preschool and Kindergarten? I do! It was fun to sing, and even more fun to keep up with the motions. The faster, the better!
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The folks at FIGS brought it back to honor the medical crew that kept Team USA in the games. If you’d like to see and hear it again, with a few more verses written just for our athletes and their doctors, just google! I tried ‘summer olympic ad with head shoulder knees and toes.’ Look down, and you’ll see a link in blue, “Medical apparel brand FIGS…” Just click on it.
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​                                                Did you find the link in blue? (Now it’s above this line.)

And if you clicked on it, you’ll find yourself on this page, with AdAge, then a blue rectangle and a hot pink one. You’re almost there! Scan down . . . 
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​Do you see what I see?!

Then click and enjoy! BTW, this version has extra images that will
make you appreciate that medical team.

If you find yourself saying OUCH, me too!
But if their work kept you in the game, then I’d say GOLD for them too!

                                        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.

​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.

                     Up next – a classic song with a message about sportsmanship and a little bit of love
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Commercial #3 – The One about Love and Sportsmanship: Sound familiar? It used a classic song from 1969. I was 10 back then.  As the music played, the video shows a kid watching an Olympic athlete take some kind of spill. Then the video flips to that child in a similar position. Guess what?! Both videos show great sportsmanship, and in today’s world, that’s an EXCELLENT thing!

If you’d like to check it out, google/search ‘olympic ad put a little love sportsmanship.’ When you look at my search window, find Comcast . . . 2024Summer Olympics – it’s in blue, like always, and it’s a link. Click and move down my screen. Yours too. 
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When you clicked, did you find yourself on this screen? Yay! Now click again, this time on the white triangle on top of that gray box of kids. Enjoy! I LOVE this commercial!

PS – Before you go, look back at my search box. At the very bottom  you’ll find one more link. It’s fantastic! It features sportsmanship . . .  from the 2022 winter games. Best of all it will warm you up for 2026 and the next Winter Olympics.

 
​                                              The last commercial, and it’s all about JOY

Commercial #4 – The Last One– Celebrate JOY: Do you remember it? The whole ad featured JOY, except for the first three seconds. They’re about hard work and practice, and then . . . Release the JOY! It’s in the music, the athletes, and the fans who imitate them.

So how can you find it? Google/search ‘olympic ad joy.’ Click, and you’ll see my search screen too. Then scan down for this link: Comcast . . .  Summer Olympics: A Little…

Click again, and you’ll see the next screen. 
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Ta-Da! THAT face is pure joy, and it’s just the beginning! It makes me want to get up and sing and dance with everyone on this commercial. It’s fantastic, and it’s the perfect way to end this post . . . with JOY!