Cyclist Wiggins, British rowers provide host country a boost
August 1, 2012 06:25 PM
Each day during the Summer Games, SportsBusiness Journal offers its take on the business performances of some of the people, sponsors, broadcasters and other entities around London.
GOLD
Bradley Wiggins &
Great Britain rowing
Wiggins, last month’s Tour de France champion, and the British women’s rowing team delivered the country’s first two gold medals of these Olympics on Wednesday, providing a mental lift for a nation that had begun to get pretty frustrated with its lack of success on the medal stand five days into the Games.
SILVER
Ticketing
London organizers seem to be getting a handle on the Games’ many empty seats, and the complaints that accompanied them. Venues have been better filled the last couple days, and there’s now concerted calls for the IOC to revamp its entire ticketing operation to avoid similar problems at future Games.
BRONZE
Dr. Dre’s Beats
Call it ambush marketing or genius at work, Beats By Dre headphones have crashed the London party thanks to the brand sending Team GB athletes like Tom Daley and Laura Robson specially designed headphones branded with Union Jack colors that delicately dance around the Olympic marketing rules. IOC, LOCOG and in particular official sponsor Panasonic can’t be happy, but you have to admire the creativity.
TIN
Bad Badminton play
Four women’s badminton teams — including the world doubles champions team from China — were kicked out of the Games on Wednesday for deliberating trying to lose matches in order to get an easier draw later in the tournament. Somehow, the creator of the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” — or faster, higher, stronger — never envisioned this.
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GOLD
 |
| Brtiain's Bradley Wiggins on the way to his gold medal on Wednesday. |
Great Britain rowing
Wiggins, last month’s Tour de France champion, and the British women’s rowing team delivered the country’s first two gold medals of these Olympics on Wednesday, providing a mental lift for a nation that had begun to get pretty frustrated with its lack of success on the medal stand five days into the Games.
SILVER
Ticketing
London organizers seem to be getting a handle on the Games’ many empty seats, and the complaints that accompanied them. Venues have been better filled the last couple days, and there’s now concerted calls for the IOC to revamp its entire ticketing operation to avoid similar problems at future Games.
BRONZE
Dr. Dre’s Beats
Call it ambush marketing or genius at work, Beats By Dre headphones have crashed the London party thanks to the brand sending Team GB athletes like Tom Daley and Laura Robson specially designed headphones branded with Union Jack colors that delicately dance around the Olympic marketing rules. IOC, LOCOG and in particular official sponsor Panasonic can’t be happy, but you have to admire the creativity.
TIN
Bad Badminton play
Four women’s badminton teams — including the world doubles champions team from China — were kicked out of the Games on Wednesday for deliberating trying to lose matches in order to get an easier draw later in the tournament. Somehow, the creator of the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” — or faster, higher, stronger — never envisioned this.
