AFLAC Springboards Synchronized Swimming TV Spot Into Team Sponsorship
July 30 2004 - 3:45PM
PR Newswire (US)
AFLAC Springboards Synchronized Swimming TV Spot Into Team
Sponsorship COLUMBUS, Ga., July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- It may
not be welcome in the team's dressing room, but the AFLAC Duck will
be spending much more time poolside as AFLAC becomes a sponsor of
the U.S. Synchronized Swimming National Team. The sponsorship
extends the relationship beyond the team's recent appearance in a
popular AFLAC television commercial into a pairing that will
include promotional tie-ins, advertising, and that has already
featured an appearance on a major national late-night talk show.
"We are excited to be involved with the U.S. Synchronized Swimming
National Team as a sponsor," said Kathelen Spencer, executive vice
president, director of Corporate Communications at AFLAC, who
originated the idea of teaming the AFLAC Duck with the synchronized
swimmers for the TV ad. "We hope AFLAC's support will contribute to
the continued growth of this competitive sport, and we will be
rooting for the team's members as they head to the upcoming
Olympics." AFLAC's sponsorship of the national team allows for
several cross-promotional and advertising opportunities, including
joint appearances, media exposure, and participation in national
championship events. The partnership was given nationwide exposure
this week as the U.S. Synchronized Swimming National Team appeared
on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman on Monday, July 26. The
team performed a brand-new, two-minute routine in a pool specially
constructed for the one-time event. (Photos from the event are
available upon request.) "AFLAC's partnership with United States
Synchronized Swimming is already helping people appreciate the
beauty, power, and athleticism of our sport in an entertaining and
ingenious way," said Terry Harper, executive director of U.S.
Synchronized Swimming. "Because of AFLAC's support of our efforts,
we're able to focus on growth and expansion of our sport throughout
the United States." The "AFLAC Synchronized Swimmers" commercial,
the 18th spot since the introduction of the AFLAC Duck, has been
one of the highest-testing commercials in the history of the
campaign. The 30-second spot opens with the team immersed in a
pool, donning colorful swim caps and performing a standard routine
until the AFLAC Duck comes along. At the end of the spot, the duck
follows the team into its dressing room but is quickly pushed out.
Created by the Kaplan Thaler Group, the commercial has aired during
primetime and high visibility sporting events since May 3. Members
of the U.S. Synchronized Swimming National team will head to
Athens, Greece next month for the 2004 Summer Olympics, where they
will compete for the Gold against teams from seven nations in the
Team competition and 23 other nations in the Duet. In 2000, the
team placed fourth in the Team event, the first time that they had
ever finished out of the medal count. They worked their way back to
a bronze medal at the World Championships competition in 2003, and
are looking to improve upon those results in Athens. Synchronized
swimming has been an Olympic sport since 1984. AFLAC Incorporated
(NYSE:AFL) is an international holding company. A Fortune 500(R)
company, AFLAC insures more than 40 million people worldwide. It is
a leading writer of insurance products marketed at the worksite in
the United States, offering policies to employees at more than
300,000 payroll accounts. The company insures one out of four
Japanese households and is the largest life insurer in Japan in
terms of individual insurance policies in force. In January 2004,
AFLAC was included in Fortune magazine's list of "The 100 Best
Companies to Work For" for the sixth consecutive year. Also in
January 2004, AFLAC was named to Forbes magazine's "Platinum 400
List of Best Big Companies in America" for the fifth consecutive
year. In March 2004, Fortune magazine included AFLAC in its annual
listing of "America's Most Admired Companies." AFLAC's Internet
address is aflac.com. U.S. Synchronized Swimming is the National
Governing Body for the Sport of synchronized swimming in the United
States, appointed by the United States Olympic Committee by Act of
Congress. It is responsible for fielding the teams that represent
the United States in the Olympic Games, the Pan American Games,
World Championships and other international competitions. It is
also responsible for developing grass roots development programs
and educational services for thousands of young athletes and
coaches in the sport throughout the United States. Laura Kane AFLAC
Incorporated (706) 596-3493 Amy McClintock U.S. Synchronized
Swimming (317) 237-5700 (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010525/AFLACLOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010525/AFLACLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: AFLAC Incorporated CONTACT:
Laura Kane of AFLAC Incorporated, +1-706-596-3493, or ; or Amy
McClintock of U.S. Synchronized Swimming, +1-317-237-5700, or Web
site: http://www.aflac.com/
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