Unless you’re living under a rock in Canada, you know that last week marked the one-year countdown to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. A year ago for the two-year countdown, there were a lot of companies working on their public relations and marketing communications campaigns to get people excited…so what happened this year? To be honest, I didn’t see a lot from corporate Canada.
Molson announced its Molson Canadian 2010 Mural Project, which is a great idea to get Canadians across the country engaged in the Games…http://blog.molson.com/community/. Make sure you submit your photo to play your part!
The BC Government also had a busy day. Premiere Gordon Campbell was in Whistler for the Torch unveiling announcement, then at Elsie Roy School to announce the Adopt a Country Program (which I attended with my client Bahamas Snowboarder, Korath Wright), hosted the Premiere’s Athlete Awards, and then went to the Official event at the Richmond Oval.
Other than that, and VANOC’s outreach, nothing really stood out. As a sponsor of the 2010 Olympics, most companies should have had a strategic communications plan in place to capitalize on the next 365 days…don’t you think? Maybe it’s because of the “Economic Downturn” but I was fairly disappointed that we didn’t see more both here in Vancouver, across British Columbia…and throughout the country.
We had a very successful week with Bahamian Snowboarder Korath Wright. Other than snowboard legend Shaun White, no one received more media attention and buzz than Korath. We have been working through a strategic plan throughout the year to get his message out there around the world, and the only communications tools we have used are straightforward public relations, engagement marketing and some social media through Twitter, Facebook, etc. Highlights of our success from last week include a great piece coming up on ET Canada this week, and the loudest, best supporters at Cypress Mountain on Saturday. There wasn’t one person at the event who didn’t know that there is a Bahamian Snowboarder by the time his part of the contest was over. We’ve been contacted by media and potential sponsors from around the world about the story, and the excitement building to 2010. It’s all part of a larger marketing communications plan that has been well thought out and executed whenever and wherever possible. It’s pretty straightforward, but I just don’t see many others doing the same?
So seriously Canada, if we can make that happen for the Bahamas, what are we doing to get the message out for our Canadian athletes and companies? This is a huge opportunity that we can’t afford to overlook or delay. Time to start getting your communications plans in place and showcase this great city, province, country to the world!
Korath Wright and his supporters