We like to think that the olympics represent a global inspiration for a healthier community, but when we cut through the noise and see whats really going on we can see that the olympics are becoming just another way to sell junk food and booze to an even fatter and drunker population.
Do we feel sportier and more inclined to be active watching the games? Yes, there is no denying it that this happens but not for everyone. Once you look past the initial impression of the games we see that the "top sponsors" include Coca-Cola and McDonalds.
At this time in history when obesity is one of our most pressing public health threats this is unacceptable. More than 60% of adults and a quarter of children in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Even worse, I'm all for drinking a few beers, but in our society there is a justified concern about the impacts of alcohol and drinking to get drunk. The games, viewed by millions across the world(3.6
Billion people to be exact), are directly associated with alcohol promotion...
I don't want to be seen as bashing the olympics. They are undoubtedly the best display of sport in the world. But we need to purify these muddy waters for what they are truly meant to represent. Surely the international olympic committee can do better than to allow this celebration of sporting excellence to be directly associated with products that pose some of the greatest threats to our health. It is my hope that in the future the games can be seen for what they really are and not simply a publicity stunt for the worlds largest brands that can survive without the promotion during the games.
Link to article:
http://theconversation.com/olympics-sponsorship-supporting-sport-or-funding-fat-8054
I think people truly do want to follow the sports during the Olympics, but a problem is is this can be the only time many people even pay attention to certain sports. The Olympics almost serves as a reminder that there are more sports out there then football, basketball, baseball and american football. However the commercialization does have an impact for sure. Also the problem with McDonalds and Coca-Cola being the sponsors is that they have the money to do so. Im sure a lot of companies simply wouldnt think it would be a good investment because of how much it probably costs. Sadly even with the Olympics it always ends with wanting to make the most money and having the sponsors who will pay the most.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the fact that obesity, especially in the U.S. is one of the most pressing issues facing our society. That being said, pretty much all professional sports leagues are sponsored by food or alcohol, for example Heineken sponsoring the champions league. In Europe you almost have to go to a bar to watch a soccer game because of the limited showing of games. To say that we need to change the Olympics is pretty much saying we need to change how all sports are viewed.. Seems hard to do.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting, and never thought about it that way. I know obesity is a huge problem in the United States, but changing the way we view sports seems tough to do. I would agree with you that the international olympic committee can do a better job, but in all honesty everything is about money and whoever is willing to pay the most is who will end up getting it.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting feedback. I guess my biggest take away would be that is there something that the IOC and their 'unhealthy' sponsors can do working in congruence to promote healthier lifestyles. Don't get me wrong I love a Big Mac as much as the next guy, but should be that be the biggest promoted thing at the Olympics? Maybe an initiative can be taken where companies band together? Or can the IOC set a limit on how much money big companies can spend giving smaller international companies a chance to sit at the table.
ReplyDelete- Tristan Crimmins
DeleteI think, as we have seen, sports are much more a business than anything. If anything were purely "for sport" purposes, there wouldn't be players complaining about how many millions of Euros they make or any of the other small aspects of a business that encompass and take over sports. Since it is a business and the end goal is profit, I think that the highest paying sponsors will always win, regardless of what their product is, healthy, unhealthy, or indifferent.
ReplyDeleteI like how honest this article is, its very true that there is a lot behind the scenes. It is good that its a way to make money for the place that hosts it, the sponsors, etc. Everything these days is so commercialized, the Olympics have certainly changed since they were founded!
ReplyDeleteDo we think that the commercialization of these types of sporting events is taking away from the purpose or adding to the fun?
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DeleteI agree that obesity is an important issue to be dealt with, especially in the United States, but when it comes down to it, all sports leagues promote these big-name food and alcohol companies. Business is business, and whoever has the money to pay for the promotion - the Olympics, one of the biggest promotional stages in the world - will get the promotion. So yes, it is possible that promotions for McDonalds may lead some viewers to the restaurant, but to correlate that with national obesity is a bit of a stretch. There are many extenuating circumstances, like socioeconomic standing, that lead to problems like obesity - not promotions from the Olympics, in my opinion.
ReplyDelete-Jonathan Sands
I agree business is business, but companies still have values that they follow. FC Barcelona ran into a similar situation with Qatar Airways. Qatar’s values do no align with the values of FC Barcelona. They decided to change their shirt sponsor to Rakuten. This Japanese company will align much better with the values of FC Barcelona. Such big teams and events, like Barcelona or the Olympics, can still receive massive amounts of money from sponsors that also align with their values.
DeleteLike many others have commented, I completely agree with the statement that obesity is a major problem in the United States. But as Noah said for example, many other events are sponsored by alcohol or food companies. At the same time though, the olympics is an international event. It is one of the biggest international events and Coca Cola and McDonalds, the companies that sponsor the Olympics, are also two of the biggest international food and beverage companies in the world. With that being said, yes the US has a high percentage of obesity but maybe other countries do also. I still think business is business and having these sponsorships are simply for the exposing their companies so more people will buy their products, and in turn they will make more money, but at the same time we should still dive a little deeper and look into the obesity numbers in all the other countries that participate in the Olympics, not only the United States.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that International advertising at events is promoting the obesity issue that we have back at home domestically? I think obesity is one of those issues thats tied in with the wealth gap and accessibility to low cost healthy food in poorer areas.
DeleteI think that there is a large amount of commercialization done during the olympics which has shifted some of the view off the purity of the sports that are occurring. But in today's world when business dominates almost every aspect of life, how could people not take advantage of such a worldwide stage in order to advance their business interests? Each time the olympics comes on, I find myself on the Olympic Nike homepage looking for some new Team USA gear to buy. At the same time I feel like we should focus on the games themselves, which we all do, but businesses are going to take advantage of what they have in front of them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a sponsor of an event, team, or person should be a good representation of the core values of that thing. That is why I do not believe that top sponsors like Coca-Cola and McDonalds should be involved in the Olympics. When I think of the Olympics I think of a variety of sports which involve training for insane hours and eating a balanced diet. I obviously believe that a business needs a platform to market their product but I think it needs to be done at the right place at the right time .
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