'Beats' down: Dr. Dre pulls off play of the Games
For all the talk of Rule 40 and the limitations it places on Olympic athletes hoping to promote their sponsors during the Games, one unofficial sponsor appears to have found a way to sneak in under the radar.
Beats by Dr. Dre brand headphones are almost as common on some Olympians as their country's track suits. The fashion accessory/audio necessity can be seen dangling around the necks and affixed to the heads of athletes from many nations as they relax in their dorms, take in the scene at the local mall, and even as they warm up for their respective events. Athletes have tweeted pictures of themselves with the headphones as well. That's a no-no under Rule 40.
One local reporter tracked down exactly how the good Dr. may be pulling off the guerrilla marketing coup. He followed athletes to an unassuming storefront near Olympic Village where the following goes down: "Athletes from the top 20 countries from the last Olympics have been invited. You walk in, have your photo taken in front of the 'b' logo and receive a pair of headphones in your team colors."
So far, only one country's Olympics officials have noticed. According to the AP: "British Olympic Association spokesman Darryl Seibel said Thursday that officials have reminded team leaders of ''the importance of protecting our corporate partners'' and of rules against endorsing commercial products on Twitter. Seibel said British athletes are welcome to wear headphones made by games sponsor Panasonic."
Image above: China's Sun Yang sporting Beats by Dr. dre (© Fabrice Coffrini/GettyImages)
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now i suppose that headphones will not be allowed in the public view. always someone looking for something to cause trouble.
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That's about how much the beats headphones are worth....nada. They're horrible sound quality. Still don't understand all the hoopla behind them. Go get a pair of Sennheiser, AKG or Pioneers and hear what music is really supposed to sound like, not this overly pumped up baseline crap.
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"NADA", really?STHU!!!!!!!!!!!
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I have 'Beats', and theyre AWESOME!!!
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you are right they are great as long as you don't have a warranty issue. I have the wireless set and the band the hold them together is breaking. Less than 6 months old Beat said to bad
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That's just about how much your comment is worth "nada", stop bitching about nothing.
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No, not allowed in public view but at least don't be disrespectful when you enter for your event. 99% of the American male swimmers did this and it was nothing less than rude. They couldn't take a moment to acknowledge their fans? People that spent money and possibly flew thousands of miles to show their support? I understand music can be beneficial to either pump them up or calm their nerves depending on one'sr personal taste but by the time they enter the venue they should be professional enough to know that it's "game on" and leave the headphones in the locker room where they belong.
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Uhhhhh I think they wear them when they come in to drown OUT the fans so they can concentrate and get into the zone! You know, what you paid to see them do....Whatever it takes to win!
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precisely. I want every athelete out there concentrating instead of listening to fans from every country that may have nothing to do with them, no matter what brand they are wearing. Whoever takes care of branding can deal with the headsets.
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Yeah! I saw that guy Michael Phelps wearing headphones before his swim and he sucks! I think he should stop concentrating on swimming and pay more attention to the fans and supporters watching him in the stands. That's what the olympic games are about right.....acknowleding the fans?
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I'm disgusted by the Olympic Committee...Over the summer I watched my local PBS station. For gay pride month in my city they were running a piece about Tom Waddell and the law suit the IOC'? brought against him for the use of the words Gay Olympics in the 80's - you know when the United States/the Republican party/Religious 'conservatives ie fanatics' had declared war on gay men...
The Olympic committee put a lean on Tom Waddells house. He was ill with Aids throughout the law suit - which the Olympic committee had to have known...And STILL they did NOT withdraw the lean on his house until AFTER he died...So, his daughter and those taking care of her did not know if they were going to have a place to live until after it was all over...
I mention this because of the fascist licensing restrictions placed on businesses in London against using certain words, phrases, or even numbers FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!...They can't use 'games', 'olympic', 'gold, silver or bronze', '2012...anything that would allude to the London games this year...
God forbid a small business that isn't an OFFICIAL sponsor should try to drum up business too...given that the wildly dire, paranoid and misguided traffic warnings that were issued in the run up the opening this summer...that have cost everyone from taxi drivers to street level businesses serious cash.
Once again the Olympic Committee strikes a blow for petty arrogance -
Yeah but ....It really isn't fair to those sponsors who make a REAL commitment financially. Where would these teams be without them? Back home. So let's ask this question ... Why is it Dr. Dre and the Beats aren't a legitimate sponsor? Too greedy or cheap to support TEAM USA and the Olympics you say? It is actually pretty cheezy that they would slide the side like this and give away their product but aren't willing to pay to legitimately sponsor the games. Athletes should think about that before taking the freebie. Sure they may be great, but Dr. Dre step to the Beat, and Donate some of your huge profit$ to the Olympics too! You obviously have them, since you are willing to give away product! Put your money where the Beat is LEGITIMATELY! On the Olympic teams!
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Well if you want to pay $100 for a pair of headphones Sennheisers are ok you still dont get quality sound fom them ..when i say quality sound i mean the highs mids and especially the lows of urban music the AKG , Sennheiser might sound good for Yanni's latest but will not even compare to beast for Jay-Z's latest so your assesment is unfair beast were designed for Urban music hip-hop R&B and Rock ...so i say to you for some soft rock and classical your choices are fine but for the hard core ear to the concrete taste of every snare drum kick Bass drum thump cymbal crach synthesized note then Beats are the way to go ....ask anybody ...oh wait they cant hear you there grooving to the music in there beats
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but just wait till you have a waranty issue BEAT by DR DRE don't stand behind the product. I have a wireless set breaking after 6 months
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sorry let me correct myself $1000 for a pair of the other headphones
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They should be able to have any headphones they like and if Dr. Dre is the preferred headphones more power to Dr. Dre and his slick marketing. BTW I think they are worth every cent, and if all it took to get a free pair was to take a picture i would.
