EF Education First Hires Haves SE to Manage Rio 2016 Partnership

Havas Sports & Entertainment (Havas SE), the global brand engagement network of the Havas Group, has been appointed by EF Education First (EF) to manage the marketing strategy and communications around their partnership with the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee (ROCOG) of the Olympic & Paralympic Games and the Brazilian Olympic Committee. 

Havas SE in Brazil will support EF with the development, activation and measurement of all marketing and communications activities around their role as the Official Supplier of Language Training Services for the Games.

EF Education First will contribute to the recruitment and training process of volunteers, provide language training for 500k Brazilian students, the members of ROCOG, and athletes of Team Brazil already studying abroad with EF. Havas SE will help EF communicate around their language training programs in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which involves helping to train one million people, an ambitious project that is part of ROCOG’s plans to leave a lasting legacy for the Brazilian people after the Games.

Present in Brazil since 2010, Havas SE has an extensive track record working for sponsors around major events, most recently around the FIFA World Cup for official sponsors including Hyundai, Kia, Coca-Cola and Louis Vuitton. Havas SE works for a range of local and international clients in Brazil including the former as well as DIA Supermarkets, Akzo Nobel, Einstein Hospital, the Sony Channel and Olive Oils from Spain.

Havas SE’s local expertise is boosted by the network’s strong knowledge and history of working with sponsors, institutions and stakeholders around the Olympics since 1992. Havas SE worked for 11 sponsors during London 2012, and has organized every Olympic torch relay for The Coca-Cola Company through its experiential arm, ignition, since 1996 including, most recently, the tour for Sochi 2014 .

Bruno Baracho, Managing Director of Havas SE Brazil, commented: “We are delighted to support EF Education First in their sponsorship strategy and activation around such an important partnership.

“Being part of a global network allows us to leverage global expertise, complemented with creative thinking and deep local knowledge, to ensure that EF Education First connects with Olympic fans and shares the story of their unique Olympic partnership with the public.”