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Innovative Idea with a IM spin!

by Otis Ogle
2 replies
Hiya everybody, it'd be neat to get your ideas and thoughts on this idea that has a very neat spin to it involving internet marketing / social networking / viral marketing! Plus you could even help get involved, but opinions/thoughts are very much important!

Table tennis has had it's Olympic funding for 2012 drastically reduced, so if Will is to realise his dream and compete on the world stage at London 2012, he will have to raise the necessary £300k himself - no mean feat for any 17 year old, let alone one who is separated from his family while he focusses on his game at his Eastern European training base. And, given the current economic climate, securing a large sponsorship deal from any one business or individual is no longer a realistic proposition... and so the idea for WillMeOn was born!

WillMeOn is an opportunity for us, the Great British public, to take the initiative and get behind one of our talented, budding Olympians, Will Maybanks, on every step of his journey to London 2012 - our Olympics. Via the WillMeOn website(www.willmeon.com), youtube, flickr and twitter you can follow his progress and connect with Will as he pursues his dream.

This is the first time that the public have been able to follow a budding olympic athlete through all the training, highs and lows, leading up to the olympic games. William Maybanks will be using web 2.0 technologies such as twitter, facebook, youtube, flickr to record his progress to London 2012 and will develop a close relationship with all those people who get involved.

Furthermore for donations of £10 or over individuals or businesses can also have their names embroidered on William Maybanks special tracksuit which we hope to get covered with 10,000 names and which he will wear to all major tournaments and the olympics.

What makes this even more admirable is that William Maybanks has done this all through his own will power, determination and focus, managing to build a team around him with donations already coming in! And he is only 17! Great stuff imo!

You can go www.willmeon.com to read up more, but this is the jist of it!

So what do you lot think?
#idea #innovative #spin
  • Profile picture of the author Otis Ogle
    Has anyone had the chance to read this? Would really value some replies/ideas/responses...
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  • Profile picture of the author Otis Ogle
    Hi Brian,

    Thanks for your response!

    The thing about this is, no sportsperson has ever used web 2.0 to promote themselves in this way. This is happening for the first time, and people will support it because of the fact William will be updating them on a regular basis with twitter, twitpic, flickr, youtube and the likes. The fact they can actualy follow William through his journey as the story unfolds is what makes this different, especialy when it sees one of our budding UK olympians, doing it rocky balboa style to get to London 2012!

    Additionaly of any donation from £1 upwards you will be recognized on the role of honour on the website, and with £10 upwards you get embroidered onto Williams special tracksuit he wears to tournaments. Is this not a reason to get involved?

    I understand gaining interest may be difficult because table tennis isn't a mainstream sport, however the fact that people can get behind someone and actualy give him mega support in a very personal and almost intimate way is undeniable. It will almost be like the support Tim Henman received year after year, heck i don't follow Tennis and i still rooted him on when wimbledon came around! Like reality T.V for a sportsperson, which is pretty unique we think. Once we get on T.V in June which is the plan and is already in the development stage, things will get big quick!

    Again, thanks for your comments, but watch this space, we have the passion!!
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