The Olympics are mired in controversy, but for U.S. advertisers, it’s business as usual

Presented by   The Olympic Games just kicked off today, but they’re already mired in controversy, from scandals with executives to athletes contracting COVID-19 to the overarching question of whether the Games should even be happening in the midst of a pandemic. But if you look at U.S. advertising for Tokyo 2020, you wouldn’t know this year is any different from Olympics past. Last month, NBC reported it had already surpassed the $1.2 billion in ad revenue it earned in the 2016 Rio Games.    It remains to be seen whether viewers will respond to these ads, or whether they’ll be turned off by companies’ return to business as usual amid so much turmoil. Read Jeff Beer’s story here. — Co.Design Editors   The Olympics may be mired in controversy, but for U.S. advertisers, it’s business as usual Brands are still banking on the selling power of the five rings.   READ MORE   Opening Ceremony creative director is the latest Olympic official to be fired The creative director was fired when video surface of him making a joke about the Holocaust.   READ MORE   How high school students are using cutting-edge tech to preserve ancient Armenian history The students did a 3D scan of a 5th century monastery right before a war broke out.   READ MORE

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How Chez Panisse redesigned fine dining—and changed how America eats Thank Alice Waters and her Berkeley, California, restaurant Chez Panisse—celebrating its 50th anniversary this year—for the farm-to-table movement that changed how America eats.   READ MORE     How racket design made tennis faster—and more fun to watch Players can serve the ball around 17.5% faster using a modern racket than with those used by the players in the 1870s.   READ MORE     Support strength in journalism Join Fast Company Premium for $1   If you don’t want to receive Compass anymore, unsubscribe here. If you were forwarded Compass and like it, subscribe here. View this newsletter online. 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007-2195