About John F. Krimsky Jr.
United States Olympic Committee
John Krimsky Jr. - Deputy Secretary General, USOC (United States Olympic Committee), raised over $2 billion for the benefit of America's athletes, President of OPUS (Olympic Properties of the United States), Member of the IOC Marketing Commission.
Yankee Nets
John Krimsky Jr. - Led the revenue generating activities of the business affairs joint-venture of the New York Yankees (MLB), the New Jersey Nets (NBA) and the New Jersey Devils (NHL).
Pan-Am World Airways
John Krimsky Jr. - Senior Vice-President of Marketing of Pan-Am World Airways.
SPORTS MARKETING: Ambush Marketing
The Early Days of Olympic Ambush Marketing
Update November, 2023 - by John Krimsky Jr.
With the Olympic Games in Paris in less than a year and sponsors coming on board, strategies for market planning, advertising, packaging, and promotions are swinging into a total planning effort.
It is appropriate to remember some 28 years ago, the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. There is no question that the Games became a true battleground of ambush marketing and challenged the Olympic Movement’s ability to protect and preserve its sponsorship, licensees, venues, and real estate reserved for the legitimate Olympic family.
Billy Payne and his team of organizers had been granted an exceptional position as hosts for the Olympic Committee’s Centennial Games. Veteran Olympic watchers were not expecting the 100th Anniversary Games to be held outside of Europe and favored Greece.
IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch clarified that the IOC rules would be strictly followed, and those using ambush marketing would be dealt severe blows to preserve the total value of sponsorships and the Olympic rights provided.
The majority of sponsors and licensees for the 1996 Olympic Games were based in the United States. In every instance, legitimate sponsors had major competitors itching to develop competitive marketing programs that would minimize the exclusivity and effectiveness of the actual sponsors.
While every effort was made to make the Olympic broadcast sponsor-friendly, the substantial amount of television time allowed the network and local stations to add many non-sponsor competitive messages.
The Atlanta Games were a time to remember. I am taking the liberty to provide readers with some of the day's press reports via a reprint or link that clarifies ambush marketing memories.
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