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The Olympics brand value is $11.4 billion

04 September 2024

Brand Finance data reveals Paris 2024 Games boosted the value of the Olympics brand by 37%

  • The Olympics brand is more valuable than other major sports organisations including the Premier League and NBA – only the NFL brand is more valuable at $24 billion
  • Olympics’ brand value growth driven by record broadcast deals and robust sponsorship revenue

[4th September 2024, LONDON] – The Olympics’ brand value increased by 37% from 2021 to 2024, from USD8.3 billion to USD11.4 billion, according to a new report from Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Following the abbreviated and delayed Tokyo Olympics 2020, this rise in brand value is attributed to growing broadcast deals, more stable sponsorship revenue, and post-pandemic optimism.

According to Brand Finance research, broadcasting rights emerged as the largest driver of brand value, for instance, the reported USD1.5 billion deal the IOC secured with Warner Bros Discovery for broadcasting rights to the games from 2018 – 2024, now renewed through 2032 and expanded to include the European Broadcasting Union. Brand Finance data also revealed sponsorship revenue was the second major contributor to the Olympic brand, valued at USD4.9 billion, followed by ticketing revenues at USD200 million. Ticketing revenues’ relatively smaller contribution to the Olympics’ overall brand value is attributable to the Olympic belief that the Games’ ticketing strategy should be accessible, rather than profitable, to promote global participation.

Other highlights include:

  • According to Brand Finance data, the Olympics play in the same league as other major sports brands, valued higher than the English Premier League (USD.9.9 billion) and the NBA (USD8.9 billion)
  • Although considered a global brand, the Olympics originate in Greece. The Olympics’ brand value is nearly 5 and a half times more valuable than the top 10 most valuable brands from Greece combined.
  • Brand Finance data reveals that since 2017, the revenue from sponsorship not only increased in size but also enhanced the Olympics’ financial performance even during non-Olympic years.

“The Olympics brand is incredibly impactful. Unlike other major sports leagues that operate for several months out of the year, the Olympics take place for just over two weeks every four years – or every two if you include the Winter Olympics – yet has the power to maintain a brand value that competes with year-round leagues. With the success of Paris 2024 setting a strong precedent, the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 games are well-positioned to break even more records. Brand Finance data suggests a continued upward trajectory for the strength and value of the Olympics brand.”

Hugo Hensley, Head of Sports Services, Brand Finance

Note to Editors

Every year, leading brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance puts 5,000 of the biggest brands to the test, and publishes over 100 reports, ranking brands across all sectors and countries.

Brand value is understood as the net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market. Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors.

The full ranking, additional insights, charts, more information about the methodology, and definitions of key terms are available in the Brand Finance Olympics Journal 2024.

Media Contacts

Penny Erricker
Senior Communications Executive
Brand Finance

About Brand Finance

Brand Finance is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Bridging the gap between marketing and finance for more than 25 years, Brand Finance evaluates the strength of brands and quantifies their financial value to help organizations of all kinds make strategic decisions.

Headquartered in London, Brand Finance has offices in over 20 countries, offering services on all continents. Every year, Brand Finance conducts more than 5,000 brand valuations, supported by original market research, and publishes over 100 reports which rank brands across all sectors and countries.

Brand Finance also operates the Global Brand Equity Monitor, conducting original market research annually on over 5,000 brands, surveying more than 150,000 respondents across 38 countries and 31 industry sectors. Combining perceptual data from the Global Brand Equity Monitor with data from its valuation database enables Brand Finance to arm brand leaders with the data and analytics they need to enhance brand and business value.

Brand Finance is a regulated accountancy firm, leading the standardization of the brand valuation industry. Brand Finance was the first to be certified by independent auditors as compliant with both ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 and has received the official endorsement of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) in the United States.

Definition of Brand

Brand is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset including, but not limited to, names, terms, signs, symbols, logos, and designs, intended to identify goods, services, or entities, creating distinctive images and associations in the minds of stakeholders, thereby generating economic benefits.

Brand Strength

Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors. Brand Finance evaluates brand strength in a process compliant with ISO 20671, looking at Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and the impact of those on Business Performance. The data used is derived from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research programme and from publicly available sources.

Each brand is assigned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the score, each brand is assigned a corresponding Brand Rating up to AAA+ in a format similar to a credit rating.

Brand Valuation Approach

Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. It involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.

The steps in this process are as follows:

1 Calculate brand strength using a balanced scorecard of metrics assessing Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and Business Performance. Brand strength is expressed as a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score on a scale of 0 to 100.

2 Determine royalty range for each industry, reflecting the importance of brand to purchasing decisions. In luxury, the maximum percentage is high, while in extractive industry, where goods are often commoditised, it is lower. This is done by reviewing comparable licensing agreements sourced from Brand Finance’s extensive database.

3 Calculate royalty rate. The BSI score is applied to the royalty range to arrive at a royalty rate. For example, if the royalty range in a sector is 0-5% and a brand has a BSI score of 80 out of 100, then an appropriate royalty rate for the use of this brand in the given sector will be 4%.

4 Determine brand-specific revenues by estimating a proportion of parent company revenues attributable to a brand.

5 Determine forecast revenues using a function of historic revenues, equity analyst forecasts, and economic growth rates.

6 Apply the royalty rate to the forecast revenues to derive brand revenues.

7 Discount post-tax brand revenues to a net present value which equals the brand value.

Disclaimer

Brand Finance has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions presented in this study are based on publicly available information and certain assumptions that Brand Finance used where such data was deficient or unclear. Brand Finance accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate. The opinions and financial analysis expressed in the study are not to be construed as providing investment or business advice. Brand Finance does not intend the study to be relied upon for any reason and excludes all liability to any body, government, or organisation.

The data presented in this study form part of Brand Finance's proprietary database, are provided for the benefit of the media, and are not to be used in part or in full for any commercial or technical purpose without written permission from Brand Finance.

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