During the past few weeks, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (the 31st Olympiad) took place, and alongside the great athletes, the world’s biggest brands also competed for the title of best advertisement. Let’s take a look at those that certainly managed to impress!

Coca-Cola #ThatsGold

The first campaign we present is #ThatsGold by Coca-Cola, created by Ogilvy & Mather Brazil and David the Agency. Following the “Taste the Feeling” concept, it features a montage of Olympic athletes from various countries, alternating between the moment they won the coveted gold medal and moments of everyday joy.

A true success for Coca-Cola, marking an important milestone as it celebrates 88 years of Olympic partnership alongside the Rio 2016 Games.

Samsung, “The Anthem”

A great display of creativity and passion comes from the work created by Leo Burnett Chicago and Leo Burnett Sydney for Samsung, which aims not only to promote the new Galaxy S7 Edge but also to convey an important message of unity among all people, coinciding with one of the world’s largest events, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

At a time when the world seems increasingly driven by fear, with people looking around with caution and suspicion, “The Anthem” aims to spread a sense of unity and shared passion.

The video begins with a young woman by the sea singing the national anthem of Botswana. The camera then shifts to another country where a man sings the Australian anthem.

With each new anthem, viewers are virtually transported to a different country, deliberately contrasting with the anthem being sung: the Malawi anthem sung by Tibetan monks, the Malaysian anthem by a Parisian woman, the Tunisia anthem sung by jubilant Germans, and so on, emphasizing how today the world has no borders.

The carefully selected verses of each anthem come together perfectly to deliver a clear message: a united world is stronger than a divided one.

Through our unity and harmony, we’ll remain at peace as one.

For we are young and free, with glowing hearts we see thee rise.

The day of glory has arrived, oh say can you see, a vivid ray of love and hope descends to Earth.

The people living united and progressive, join together all of our hearts as one.

Happy and glorious, listen to us gently with the infinite love.

Unity and justice and freedom, stand unchanged by wind and frost.

Offer peace to friends, and united we shall stand.

(Through unity and harmony, we remain in peace with one another. For we are young and free, with glowing hearts we see glory rise. The day of glory has arrived, oh can you see it, a vivid ray of love and hope descends upon the earth. People live united, and our hearts come together as one. Happy and glorious, listen to us gently with infinite love. Unity, justice, and freedom stand unchanged by wind and frost. Offer peace to friends, and united we shall endure.)

Nike, “Unlimited Future”

For its advertising campaign, Nike decided to imagine what the first motivational speech might sound like for those who will become the future sports heroes.

In “Unlimited Future,” we see Bobby Cannavale, the lead actor from HBO’s Vinyl, enter a nursery and give an impassioned speech to the newborns, one that could rival the great performances of actors like Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday.

As the camera shifts, the names of the little champions start to appear: Neymar Jr., Serena Williams, LeBron James— all of them greats with humble beginnings.

P&G, “Thank You Mom – Strong”

And here’s one that strikes straight to the heart of each of us, because it’s true that behind every great Olympic champion, there has always been the support of a loving mother who has loved, protected, and motivated them from childhood.

This is the premise of Thank You, Mom – Strong, the campaign by the giant Procter & Gamble for Rio 2016, which increasingly celebrates the love of mothers as the driving force and support for the determination every athlete needs to achieve the coveted goal of participating in the Olympics.

Released 100 days before the start of the Olympic Games—and in conjunction with Mother’s Day—the campaign takes us back in time with a group of athletes (played by actors). In the critical moment before their Olympic performance, when concentration is at its peak, they find the strength to give their all thanks to the memory of the care and love they received from their mothers.

These are just some of the many interpretations that major brands decided to give the Rio 2016 Games, which have now concluded, bringing countless emotions and heart-pounding races, while offering our athletes great satisfaction.