Giant Coca Cola Man Arrives At The World Cup

The first game of the 2010 World Cup was played today, kicking off a tournament that will have the eyes of the world watching. I love the passion, the spirit, and of course the competition of the tournament, but one of my favorite aspects of the World Cup are the advertisements. Nike, Heineken, and Coca-Cola tend to put together stunning advertising campaigns for big soccer events.

The current display by Coke for this World Cup is the Giant Coca-Cola Man that was erected in Johannesburg. Located in the fan park, this structure was built out of 2500 Coke crates. It weighs 28 tons and stands approximately 55 feet high. The crates will be recycled after the event.

By this time, you probably have already seen the brilliant Nike commercial urging you to “Write The Future.” In this campaign Nike creates a world where the players’ fate is visualized, depending on the success or failure of his play.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idLG6jh23yE

I haven’t yet seen any of the Heineken ads for this tournament, but for the Champions League 2009 finale, held in Rome, they had a very clever billboard.  Utilizing Heineken bottles, they formed the shape of the famed Colosseum.

In a time where we fast forward through commercials, and speed by billboards, these companies are still coming up with great ways to grab our attention.  By being clever, unique, and bold, these advertisements are creating lasting impact.