Samsung Canada is continuing its long-standing support of Canadian Olympic athletes with the launch of the #BringItHome consumer program leading up to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
Samsung has been a worldwide Olympic partner since the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. In Canada, the consumer electronics company has made considerable efforts to not only support Canadian athletes but also connect consumers to the Games across multiple platforms.
Team Samsung: Michael Gilday, Men's Short Track Speed Skating, Steven Stamkos, Men's Ice Hockey, Marie-Eve Drolet, Women's Short Track Speed Skating, Greg Westlake, Men's Ice Sledge Hockey, and Hayley Wickenheiser, Women's Ice Hockey.
Samsung Canada unveiled plans for the #BringItHome program during an event in Toronto Monday afternoon. It includes a cross-country promotional tour, a digital hub and a contest.
For the “Notes from Home” portion of the campaign, Samsung brand ambassadors will tour the country with Galaxy smartphones and tablets, allowing Canadians to send messages of inspiration and support to Olympic athletes.
“Our hope is that we can inspire Canadians to be part of bringing the energy and excitement and enthusiasm and passion as fans to inspire our athletes to do their best and create a home team advantage in Sochi,” said Mark Childs, who joined Samsung Electronics Canada as chief marketing officer in July after eight years with Campbell Company of Canada.
The messages will be posted on a digital hub that will also include information on athletes competing in the games. It also houses a contest page for “socially savvy storytellers” to upload videos explaining why they should represent the brand in Sochi. The public will vote on a winner.
Brands and sponsors in Canada enjoyed enormous success during the last Winter Olympics in Vancouver when fan interest was exceptionally high. The degree of difficulty will be higher in 2014 with the Olympics taking place in Russia. “This time around it’s an away game so any way we can bring fans together via social is an amazing thing and this #BringItHome campaign will do exactly that, so we’re really excited and proud to [partner with Samsung] on this,” said Derek Kent, chief marketing officer at Canadian Olympic Committee.
As part of its Olympic support, Samsung is partnering with five Canadian athletes, who will act as brand ambassadors as part of the “Samsung Galaxy Team” and engage with consumers through the Notes from Home program.
Those athletes are Steven Stamkos, Men’s Ice Hockey; Hayley Wickenheiser, Women’s Ice Hockey; Greg Westlake, Men’s Ice Sledge Hockey; Marie-Eve Drolet, Women’s Short Track Speed Skating and Michael Gilday, Men’s Short Track Speed Skating.
