Over the last few weeks, we have covered some of the best Olympic 2024 commercials. These ad campaigns are a testimony to the grit, determination, and hard work put in by all Olympians to make their nations proud on the biggest sporting platform. But while some of these campaigns left us teary-eyed, it’s only fair that we compensate for it through a bit of laughter. And I don’t think there is a better way to do that than covering some of the funniest Olympic commercials in our #FunnyFridays segment.
So, here we are with 5 funny Olympic commercials that deserve a medal of their own.
1. Visa: The Carpool to Rio (2016)
Visa launched its 2016 Rio Olympics ad campaign with this funny 100-second spot that showed around 20 athletes carpooling their way to Rio.
The ad opens with the Kiwi shotputter Valerie Adams waking up irritatingly and throwing her alarm clock through the wall. Other athletes then join her in her minivan as they embark on a fun and light-hearted carpool to the Rio Olympics. The funniest part was watching Canadian divers Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware, who are so synchronized that even their heads slump the same way when they fall asleep while sitting in the minivan.
Also, watch out for U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin swimming up to the ferry to join Adams. If that isn’t being ever-ready, I don’t know what is!
2. McDonald’s: Future Olympic Babies (1992)
They say give a child a good start, and they'll go far. Well, first you need to identify potential talents and Mcdonald's surely aimed to do that with this advert.
McDonald's released this funny 30-second advert in the 1992 Olympics wherein it featured multiple children and predicted their athletic prowess in different sports. While one was prophesied to be a weightlifter, another was predicted to be a swimmer, and a third child to be a soccer player.
Well, we don’t know if any of these kids went on to pursue the sports that they were “assigned” in their infancy, this ad surely gave us all a good laugh.
3. NBC Sports: The Minions (2021)
Ever since we began the #FunnyFridays series, I have observed that the funniest adverts also have an element of surprise. And NBC Sports understood this as well.
This 30-second Tokyo Olympics ad by NBC Sports begins on an intense note with the American gymnast Simone Biles engaging in a serious monologue. Just when you thought this was another one of those inspiring commercials, a minion emerges while Biles is doing a headstand and asks for her autograph to which she happily obliges and even rewards the minion with a kiss.
Here’s another advert where these minions interrupt swimmer Caeleb Dressel's Olympic training as he contemplates what it takes to be the best!
4. Panasonics: Watch Party (2008)
There are two kinds of people. The first type are the ones who like to watch sports in a group. The second kind includes the ones who wish to watch it alone. But what happens when a lone watcher is surrounded by group watchers? This 2008 Panasonics advert is all about that!
The ad shows a guy tuning in to watch the Olympic games on his TV when he is greeted by unexpected guests. As it turns out, these folks want to watch the Olympics too. And what better way to do that than wading into someone’s home unannounced?🤣
5. AAMI Insurance: Athletes in the Making (2024)
And here’s the funniest Olympic commercial and the one with probably the best product placement!
This 60-second spot by AAMI Insurance is somewhat similar to the tried-and-tested formula of showcasing the progress of Olympians right from their childhood to turning into world beaters. The ad begins with stirring music and inspiring slow-motion shots of kids training at home- lifting weights, getting ready to turn cartwheels, practicing judo, and firing a bow. But just when you assume it to be a highly inspirational advert, disaster strikes with the bags of flour weights ending up all over the patio; the judoka destroying a vase, and the junior gymnast smashing a flatscreen TV.
Thankfully, AAMI Insurance is right there to pick up the pieces and negate any damage!
Wrapping Up
And that was a wrap of another #FunnyFridays segment in which we covered some of the funniest Olympic commercials. The Olympics has such a high reputation associated with it that one has to be very careful about their ad campaigns. But if you put some mind into it, crafting a hilarious Olympic advert isn’t as difficult as one might think, which is clear from the adverts discussed above.
We’ll be back with more hilarious Olympic Commercials for you next week. Till then, stay tuned!
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