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UO E-clips, Aug. 19
Top story for August 19, 2008: Is there a stumbling American (company) in Beijing? The Oregonian today wonders if Nike's laces are coming undone on the big stage, and the UO's Paul Swangard is quoted
Nike stumbles in Beijing Olympics marketing race (The Oregonian): Are Nike's laces coming undone in the Beijing marketing race? First, the founder of competing Chinese sportswear firm Li Ning Co. lit the Olympic cauldron in front of an estimated 4 billion viewers. On Sunday, Puma-sponsored Usain Bolt won the 100-meter dash in memorable style, cradling his gold Puma spikes afterward for cameras. Then, early Monday, Nike's top Chinese marketing vehicle, defending 110-meter Olympic hurdling champ Liu Xiang, pulled out of the Games with an Achilles injury. "Maybe the end of the games will provide some better story-making for their brand than they have so far," said Paul Swangard, managing director of the University of Oregon Warsaw Sports Marketing Center.