In 120 years of the Modern Games, more than 70 participating countries have never set foot on the Olympic podium. One million athletes train relentlessly with the dream of competing in each Olympic Games, yet only 1% will qualify, let alone medal. As a company with a heritage of defying barriers, Samsung supports people who push the definition of what is possible, and Rio 2016 provided the perfect stage to make the connection. Enlisting Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, we would tell the story of big dreams and long odds in a documentary film immersing viewers in the lives of four Rio 2016 Olympic hopefuls from countries that have never had a female medalist, or won any Olympic medal at all. Their journey celebrates anyone who has fought through physical and social barriers. These are people who don’t expect anything handed to them. All they want is “a fighting chance.”

Samsung provided media with a sneak preview of “A Fighting Chance,” at South by Southwest. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville was on-site to debut the trailer and discuss his experience on the film. An exclusive with Associated Press drove coverage and trailer views on Samsung’s YouTube channel, amplified over Samsung social media.

Building on the 100 Days Out from Rio 2016 milestone, Samsung premiered “A Fighting Chance” in a private screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. Two of the film’s featured athletes made their first trip to the U.S. to attend the premiere and participate in a media tour with Neville and Samsung executives. Coverage included The Wall Street Journal and Huffington Post Rise. “A Fighting Chance” launched on a branded Vimeo channel, as well as Samsung’s social/digital channels including YouTube and Twitter. Samsung will continue the drumbeat leading up to the Olympic Games through additional media activations.

As of April 30, with major Olympic coverage still ahead, Samsung already achieved its goal of driving media impressions, digital engagement and emotional brand connections:

- Trailer debut and film premiere generated 679 million impressions globally

- 92% of coverage included at least one key message, 58% contained at least four

- Samsung ranked #1 in volume of coverage and SOV among Olympic Games sponsors

- Within 10 days “A Fighting Chance” was viewed more than 1.3 million times on Vimeo and Samsung YouTube, generating 5.8 million native distribution impressions.

- 4+ million views of trailer

- “A Fighting Chance” selected as prestigious Vimeo Staff Pick

- “Thousands of athletes will train in relative or complete obscurity, unknown to sponsors and most of the sports-watching public. It’s a story that director Morgan Neville (and partner Samsung) wants to tell in his new documentary, A Fighting Chance releasing in April.” -Mashable