Entertainment Lions For Sport > Branded Content for Sport

NIKE: YOU CAN'T STOP US

WIEDEN+KENNEDY, Portland / NIKE / 2021

Awards:

Silver Cannes Lions
CampaignCampaign(opens in a new tab)
Supporting Content
Case Film

Overview

Credits

Overview

Why is this work relevant for Entertainment?

During one of the most challenging years in the last century, everyone needed some inspiration—something that made them feel good about what was being done and what they could do themselves. Sports, and much of life, had been canceled at every level. But athletes, pro and amateur, were still playing and fighting for what was right. And even though we were apart, we were really together. “You Can’t Stop Us” gave everyone hope and unity. It was an anthem for 2020. It was a message you wanted to watch over and over again.

Background

The first half of 2020 was tumultuous. The world was in the midst of fighting two pandemics, COVID-19 and racial injustice, and in America, political divisions were tearing the country apart. With so much darkness everywhere, sport felt like the last thing on people’s minds.

We knew sport couldn’t cure us or save us, but the power of sport has always guided, inspired, and united us. When so many around the world were either facing extraordinary challenges or soon emerging into a new normal, sport could be a reminder of what’s possible when we come back together.

Describe the creative idea

We watch a split-screen story of different athletes perfectly matched while in action. Their combined movements reveal their togetherness through not only the obstacles of sports, but during the pandemic and the fight against injustice.

Describe the strategy

Ignite sports culture and the news cycle by creating immediate awareness and excitement around the return of the NBA.

Describe the execution

The split-screen bar had to be raised to a completely new level. The athletes are often in the middle of intense action, but their movements are still perfectly matched. The idea was to go beyond a simple montage, too, presenting a story arc of global athletes playing together, fighting opposition on and off the fields and courts, and pushing through it all—as one. To arrive at just 36 scenes, more than 4,000 sequences were researched and 900 pairings attempted.

Describe the outcome

• 632.4M Global Impressions (in just the first 72 hours).

• 170.7M Global Earned Impressions (in just the first 72 hours).

• More than 1,300 athletes, partners, and sports organizations shared the film and/or custom cards telling their own story on the power of unity.

• +16.1 Points above Engagement Benchmark on Instagram (first 72 hours).

• 59,000,000+ Views on YouTube Alone.

• Consumer Posts about the Film (first 72 hours) Earned a Positivity Ratio of 35 to 1

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