An Atlanta-based sports marketing agency that sprouted after the 1996 Olympics has helped Pyeongchang, South Korea, win the Winter Olympic Games for 2018.
Helios Partners has helped many winning cities, such as 2014 host Sochi, Russia, craft brand identities and present their cases to the International Olympic Committee.
The committee selected Pyeongchang as Sochi’s successor on July 6 in Durban, South Africa. The Korean city defeated Munich and Annecy, France, in the first round of voting.
Helios joined Pyeongchang’s bid in mid-2009, developing its communications strategy and working with Olympic experts to introduce the theme of “New Horizons.”
The games are set to transform northeastern South Korea’s Gangwon province into a hub for winter sports competitions, training and tourism, according to a Helios news release.
“Pyeongchang 2018’s victory is a great example of a nation’s persistence and patience,” said Terrence Burns, the company’s president, adding that the campaign “clearly resonated with the IOC.”
The message crafted by Helios Partners was an important complement to Pyeongchang’s technical bid, said YH Cho, chairman and CEO of the city’s bid team.
“Their expertise and know-how were crucial to our selection,” Mr. Cho said.
Helios, which has offices in Atlanta, Beijing, London, Paris and Rio de Janeiro, recently helped Russia win the 2018 World Cup bid and helped bring the 2013 Universiade, the world university games held biennially, to the city of Kazan.
For more information, visit www.heliospartners.com.
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