Sport Ireland’s Post

Continuing from the insightful case study of Sela and Newcastle United FC ive shared recently, here's another exemplary narrative on the transformative power of brand sponsorships through emotional content marketing. 🌟 Emotional Resonance in Brand Sponsorship: The Coca-Cola Company's Olympic Journey 🌟 In the glow of the Olympic torch, The Coca-Cola Company, together with the IOC and IPC, demonstrates the profound capabilities of brand partnerships. This goes beyond mere branding—it's a masterful act of storytelling that lifts the spirit and speaks to a journey shared by all. The introduction of #teamcocacola and Powerade's campaign, with Simone Biles at the forefront, transcends the sporting arena to weave a tale of strength and pause. Here, #pauseispower isn't just a tagline but a manifesto that champions contemplation as a source of power. Coca-Cola captures the essence of this movement, threading the delicate balance of action and stillness into a larger narrative. Key takeaways from Coca-Cola's approach include: - Emotive Content: Telling stories that echo with universal truths can profoundly resonate and redefine a brand. - Compassionate Connection: Revealing the personal struggles and triumphs of athletes provides an authentic touchpoint for connection. - Harmonious Message: Synchronizing with the Olympic spirit, Coca-Cola broadcasts a message of hope and shared dreams. Coca-Cola's campaign stands as a beacon of what modern sponsorship can accomplish—connecting heartbeats worldwide to the rhythm of shared human experiences. #TeamCocaCola #Powerade #OlympicSpirit #ContentMarketing #BrandStorytelling #sponsorships

We're happy to share the news that our funding from UK Sport for our World Class Performance Programme for the cycle to take us to LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games has seen a near 3% rise for Olympic sports while the para equestrian programme has been boosted by just under 10%. Totaling over £15.5 million, the funding covers the period from April 2025 to March 2029 and is key to supporting our athletes and horses on the programmes which help them develop and realise their potential to perform on the world's biggest stages. BEF Performance Director Helen Nicholls said: "We are extremely grateful to UK Sport for their recognition and belief in our ability to deliver medals and meaningful results on the global stage. Thanks also to the Government in providing financial stability and security with this enhanced commitment to elite level sport - being able to plan long term is a key in sporting success and gives a huge performance advantage. "The LA cycle will certainly be a financial challenge across our four Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, but we will work hard and smart to support our athletes to develop and grow, as well as inspiring the next generation and new supporters with their achievements and stories, in and out of the saddle." Full story: https://lnkd.in/ekHvbStX Image: British Equestrian / Jon Stroud Media #UKSport #TheNationalLottery #ThePowerOfSport

A story breaking in the UK, whereby #Paris2024 medalists from Team GB & ParalympicsGB were invited to a royal reception at Buckingham Palace in #London, yet only the medalists from Team GB were invited to an after party at luxury retailer Fortnum & Mason. There is lots to unpick here, but a couple of points I would like to highlight. Clearly balls were dropped in terms of communication & I doubt we will never really know if the separate party for our #Paralympians was always planned or a rushed after thought, following Zac Shaw calling them out. What I do know is that for many years the retailer has its tea packaged by the amazing team of supported workers at the Enham Trust 3PL factory, a social enterprise that employs disabled people. I do not think for one moment that Fortnum & Mason wants to deliberately upset the disabaled community. However, somewhere within the organisation, there has been a serious error of judgement & very poor communication around 'space'. This has caused reputational damage to their brand & hurt to some para-athletes. But as you judge them, I would suggest they do more than most organisations to support our disabled community. I would also like to go on & question why, post-Olympics & post-Paralympics, we always lump celebratory events together with both sets of athletes. Whilst the #Olympics is the largest sporting event in the world, sitting at number 3 is the #Paralympics. To remind ourselves, ParalympicsGB came 2nd in the medals table (124), nestled between China (220) & USA (105). That is a phenomenal achievement, which, in my view, deserves to be celebrated beyond the shadow of the Olympics & not diluted. Of course, disabled people want parity with the rest of society, which is a daily fight for most. But combining celebratory events for our Olympic & Paralympic athletes is not really parity, it's just a cost saving measure for the organisers & sponsors. I have a solution... UK Sport awarded c.£246 Million to various National Governing Bodies for #Paris2024 Summer Olympics. They awarded c.£69 million over a similar period for #Paris2024 Summer Paralympics. The disparity of funding aside, UK Sport's funding comes from Department for Culture, Media and Sport & #TheNationalLottery. For #LosAngeles2028, when DCMS & The National Lottery are making their financial forecasts, I think it would not be unreasonable (& not unaffordable) for them to increase or set aside budget / funding to include 4 post-Olympic / Paralympic celebratory events, rather than 2. We already know the formats; a televised 'Homecoming' & a Royal Reception / After Party. So, let's continue to celebrate & recognise all of our amazing athletes & para-athletes. But let's also budget for this properly & not allow our national elite athletes to ever be compromised by cost or convenience. https://lnkd.in/epAGEEJq #DisabilityInclusion #Disability #Sport #ParaSport #Athletics #ParaAthletics #SupportedEmployment

An important day for Para-sport in Australia, Paralympics Australia and the sports sector. An historic $283 million investment in sport announced by the Federal Government. This unprecedented funding, which includes an additional $54.9 million for Paralympic sport, represents a monumental shift in the recognition and support of Para-sport in Australia. Thanks to the leadership and unwavering support of the Federal Government, who have set a new benchmark for the advancement of Para-sport, and we are profoundly grateful for your commitment. This investment is the single largest increase in Paralympic spending by an Australian Government. It signifies not only a significant financial boost but also a renewed dedication to addressing the systemic barriers that Para-athletes face. #ImagineWhatWeCanDo

This comment draws attention to the stark contrast between Nestlé's celebratory PR activities and their unethical business practices. While they showcase their support for athletes like Richael Timothy, Nestlé's track record is marred by allegations of child labor, unethical sourcing of water, and aggressive marketing of unhealthy products to children. This attempt to boost their public image through sports sponsorship is a thinly veiled distraction from the harm they continue to perpetuate in communities worldwide. It's time to see through the façade and hold Nestlé accountable for their exploitative practices. #NestléExposed #UnethicalBusinessPractices Let's not be swayed by Nestlé's superficial gestures of support for athletes and instead demand real accountability for their destructive impact on society and the environment. Join the call for transparency, ethical sourcing, and responsible marketing practices. #HoldNestléAccountable #DemandEthicalBusiness

It’s time to reflect on the 2024 Paris Olympics and the lessons we can learn from each athlete’s displays of heroism, sportsmanship, grit, and perseverance in the face of loss. Ireland stood out this Olympics for rising to 19th place overall among the participating countries and taking home four gold medals 🥇 and three bronze 🥉, more than ever before. The below article highlights how when we reframe each country’s winnings per capita, success can take a different shape. Understanding the hard work and talent necessary to compete at any level on the Olympic stage makes any type of success that much more meaningful.

My first article with Gamamari is live! ⭐️ It was announced this year that Australian Paralympians will receive the same medal incentive payments as their Olympian counterparts. While this is a step in the right direction, we still have a long way to go when it comes to recognising Paralympians for what they are: elite athletes. Read my thoughts below.

▶️ Australia’s first Para-Sport Unit unveiled at the South Australian Sports Institute. The Para-Sport Units will provide world-class services which supports athletes on their pathway from identification through to the Paralympics. A partnership between the #theAIS, Paralympics Australia and National Institute Network, the Para-Sport Units will provide additional opportunities for people with a disability to be discovered and to provide world-class services which supports athletes on their pathway from identification through to the Paralympics. The initiative was made possible through the Australian Government’s $54.9m additional Para-sport funding, doubling the existing support, as announced by Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells in June.

🎇 Let's celebrate with the ‘official’ 2024 Olympics "Made In France" Mascot! 💡 Kiwi pop-quizz - Did you know? !    💪 The New Zealand Team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has 195 athletes The team will compete across more sports than ever before at the Olympic Games, with New Zealand's athletes to contest 23 sports. The Games will mark New Zealand's Olympic debut in 🏄♂️ kiteboarding and 🧗♀️ speed climbing. The team is close to gender equal, made up of 98 men ♂ and 97 women♀ Auckland has produced the largest number of athletes, with 58 team members hailing from the region. Canterbury is next with 24, Wellington 18, the Waikato 17, and Bay of Plenty 14 New Zealand’s youngest athlete is footballer ⚽ Milly Clegg who is just 18 years old, while equestrian athlete 🐎 Tim Price is the oldest team member at 45 🥇 Check out these top 10 Kiwi medal prospects. Apparently, New Zealand has been tipped to capture 14 medals, including four gold, according to Nielsen's Gracenote Sports, which provides statistical analysis of major sporting events around the world. Of course, the Olympics have already kicked off as NZ has had our own little spy 🕵♀️ scandal with the devious, dastardly Canadians flying a drone to spy on New Zealand national women’s team on two separate occasions at the Paris Olympics. Why the eighth ranked team in the world feels the need to spy on the 28th ranked team is anyone's guess, and they duly beat us 2-1. Any questions about that win ??  

We loved watching the Boccia at this year's Paralympics so much that today we're getting involved with our own #BigBocciaBash Boccia UK - we've got a lot to learn! Fancy joining us at Team Family Fund? (Boccia playing is optional) Visit https://lnkd.in/eXuT9SpD [Video description: Two Family Fund colleagues sit together throwing a Boccia ball onto a taped out court. Text reads: Trying out our fave Paralympic sport at the office today. The next scene shows a colleague using a measuring tape to judge the results of the match. Text reads: Taking it very seriously - tape measure at the ready. A photo follows showing three colleagues getting food together. Text reads: Refuelling with a team lunch! Final page shows a purple background with text reading: want to join Team Family Fund? Check out our vacancies on our website.]