***UPDATE*** Apparently my suggestion that VISA put out a patriotic commercial celebrating the American athlete is not a universal sentiment, even among fellow Americans. But there was one company that took this advice: AT&T. I don’t have any video of this commercial, but it plays alot when you watch a replay on nbcolympics.com. It starts off with, “You’re a team USA fan who says ‘We’”
Now THAT’S what an Olympics commercial should look like!
While we’re on the Olympics, what’s with the new VISA commercials? Each ad, directed at, umm, Americans I presume, has an American athlete being awesome at their sport with Morgan Freeman doing the dramatic voiceover talking about how awesome they are. Then the slogan at the end reads: “Go World”.
Go World? Really? I’m not rooting for “The World” in two months.
Who was the marketing genius behind this move? You just showed an American athlete for 30 seconds and talked about how incredible their achievements are, and you polished that off and summarized it with “Go World”? I mean, I guess it’s cool when the Jamaican sprinter breaks the world record in the 100 in 9.76. Yay human beings, we’re kinda fast, wave that UN flag, hooray. But call me crazy, I like it a lot more when Americans go 1-2-3 in the 400. VISA chose not to go the patriotic route?
How about an ad campaign, “Go America”? American Express, you can have that idea for free.
17 Comments
June 28, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Derek Redmond is featured in one of the ads as well. Derek Redmond is British.
June 28, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Nastia Liukin = America
Bob Beamon = America
Michael Phelps = America
Kerri Strug = America
Derek Redmond = British
Go world?
July 6, 2008 at 3:19 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V22PebTiik&feature=related
The “Come Together” ad is the centerpiece of the campaign. As it is an American campaign, American athletes will naturally feature more than international athletes.
But the important thing is that Visa’s campaign shows they understand the true spirit of the Olympic games. You, on the other hand, are missing the point.
July 6, 2008 at 3:57 pm
You’re right. I’m going to go buy my UN flag now. Go human spirit!
July 8, 2008 at 3:31 pm
The spirit of the games is to come together….then kick each others rumps. If the goal was to sit around and sing songs and roast marshmellows then we wouldnt keep time, or score, or judge. The spirit of the games is to come together…then sort it out on the field, court, track, etc etc…
So I will be cheering on Team USA after the opening ceremonies.
July 31, 2008 at 10:01 am
Sorry, I agree with slaterradio on this. Enough is enough with the one world cum-bi-yah crap. I personally don’t like holding hands with complete strangers. I don’t know when it became un-pc to be proud of America, to be patriotic or that it’s wrong for Americans to root for American athletes but it’s getting’ on my last nerve. I understand the beautiful sentiment behind the Olympics. The world can compete and nobody has to die. Yay! I’m still rootin’ for my fellow Americans – sue me.
And another thing! I’m sick and tired of our political leaders going to other countries and giving speeches that highlight everything that is WRONG with America and nothing that is right. Mike’s correct every time he says that America is the greatest country in the world and I for one still believe it.
TO TEAM USA!!!
August 10, 2008 at 3:00 pm
the way that “amy” character has totally missed the point and subsequently jumped the gun is quite comical.
but I see the ads as focusing on the perseverance and spirit that the Olympics, on its best days, wants to represent.
it has nothing really to do with cheering on – or not cheering on – your home country whether it be America or not.
August 10, 2008 at 3:06 pm
not to mention inspiration and athletic achievement….
poor attempt at attention seeking slater…unless the post was for the lulz.
August 10, 2008 at 3:10 pm
You’re right, that would be silly for an American company to run ads of American athletes on American television celebrating American athletic achievement and then say, “Go America”. I take it all back, L.C. Go Everyone!
August 11, 2008 at 4:08 pm
In answer to the Question “Go World” VISA is thinking about were these games are being held,China The Country with the largest population in the world.They can not Say “Go China” Without getting tarred and feathered….BUT think about it A billion Chinese a Growing Economy in the future they are going to want VISA cards.Credit Card Companies already Have most Americans by the Short and Curlies LOL so now there after China I do not like it the way there doing but the above makes perfect since as to WHY.
Phillip A Lewis
Dyersburg TN
August 12, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Consider also that VISA is a sponsor of the Olympic Games, not of Team USA. If VISA were sponsoring the athletes who represent the United States, of course it would be appropriate for them to make “Go America” advertisements. As sponsors of the Games, however, it would not be appropriate for them to produce commercials in support of any particular team.
August 13, 2008 at 5:54 am
Like the Official Bank Sponsor of the 2008 U.S. Olympic TEAM – Bank of America? Whose campaign, ironically enough, is called “America’s Cheer”. I suppose it’s only considered ‘appropriate’ to have pro-team USA advertisements in uh, the USA – if the company is ONLY an ‘official sponsor’ of the team and not the Olympics themselves.
“Unlike any other sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games are the only time when an entire nation cheers for one team,” said Anne Saunders, Brand and Advertising executive, Bank of America. “Our new campaign captures the passion and spirit with which Americans everywhere are cheering on the extraordinary athletes who will represent the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games.” – You would think anyway.
August 13, 2008 at 5:16 pm
[...] still don’t agree with the GO WORLD ending. Phelps represents [...]
August 14, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Are you an idiot? Visa is an international company not an strictly American Company, and in case you didn’t notice — the Olympics are not “American.” I am so sick and tired of the ego-centric attitude of Americans no wonder hated around the world. It’s not about “us” you fool. It’s about the human spirit, coming together to participate regardless of the conflicts in the world. Nothing spoke more eloquently than that this year when an olympian from Georgia and Russia embrassed after an event in the olympics. You don’t get it buddy, and as I tell my childrem — when you don’t get it — it’s best to keep you mouth shut.
August 14, 2008 at 7:01 pm
lol, hilarious.
And VISA is an American company headquartered in San Francisco.
How’s this compromise, tvcw; For the international coming together commercials, end them with “Go World.” For the commercial that specifically congratulates Michael Phelps on winning more gold medals than any Olympian ever while representing the United States, how about you end it with “Go America”? Deal?
August 17, 2008 at 9:30 pm
If you have been paying attention to ALL of them, you would notice one shows at least two different countries other than America, one being Greece which is shown painted on the head of a young boy. Another one shows an track runner finishing the race last with his father. True, it shows most Americans, but would you rather Visa support there country or Spanish backetball team ad in which their eyes are slanted like the Chinese? After all, you said and I quote “VISA is an American company headquartered in San Francisco” so why not show Americans?
August 18, 2008 at 10:40 am
That slater dude really should call Visa and let them know that they’re not an international company. I think they’d be quite shocked. Maybe he should also tell them to stop sponsoring athletes around the world. Then again, he probably wouldn’t be aware of that since it happens outside of the United States. Why do so many republicans suffer from myopia.