Nissan has released the first in a series of short films that provide a behind the scenes insight into the lives of Ireland’s Olympians and their bid to secure gold medals at the Rio Olympic Games.
As an official Olympic partner the activation of athletes up to and throughout the games will not fall foul of restrictions likely to be imposed on other brands as a means of protecting the investment of the partners at national and local level.
The first of the films in the ‘Nissan – Road to Rio’ series features race walker Rob Heffernan who is Ireland’s longest serving Olympian and the first Irish athlete to qualify for five Olympic Games.
The former World Champion and his wife and coach Marian, who also represented Ireland at the London 2012 Olympic Games, have embarked on the journey to achieve their Olympic dream while balancing life as parents to four young children.
The short film reveals a candid insight into what it takes to succeed at the top flight of sport and the motivating factors behind Rob’s final bid to win a gold medal at what is likely though not certain to be, his last Olympic Games, with stunning footage of his rigorous training regime shot at Fota Island in his native Cork.
Rob and Marian Heffernan are the first of a number of Irish Olympians who have been appointed as Nissan ambassadors to feature in the series of short films, all of which will be released by Nissan over the coming weeks.
The other Nissan ambassadors who star in the series include Arthur Lanigan O’Keeffe who is the current European Modern Pentathlon Champion and brothers Paul and Gary O’Donovan from Skibbereen in Cork who will represent Ireland in the Lightweight Double Sculls.
Also featured is Dublin canoeist Jenny Egan, who claimed Ireland’s first ever medal at the Senior European Canoe Sprint Championship with bronze in the K1 5,000 metres event and who is aiming to qualify for the Rio Games along with Kerry rower Monika Dukarska and Dublin sprinter Catherine McManus.
The film series itself is a product of the innovative Nissan Generation Next programme, which supports Ireland’s next generation of leaders on the national and international stage.
The films were directed and produced by Dublin man Dermot Malone (25) and his company Banjoman Films in collaboration with Paul Campbell (29) whose company Aerpas specialises in drone photography. The two rising stars are both Nissan Generation Next ambassadors.
“Nissan are delighted to support and work with some of the most inspiring Irish athletes who will compete at the Rio Olympic Games in just over 150 days time,” said James McCarthy, CEO of Nissan Ireland.
“We are proud to back their ambition and to provide a deeper insight into what is driving them to achieve. There are no short cuts on the journey to Olympic success and this series of short films provides a fascinating insight into what it takes to get to the finish line first,” added Mr. McCarthy.
Nissan’s brand ambassadors have been supplied with cars from its award winning crossover range including the Nissan X-Trail and Nissan Qashqai, providing them with cars packed with style, comfort and innovative technology as they continue on their journey to the Rio Olympic Games.
