IOC Unveils New Social Media Features for London Summer Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced a series of social media features to appeal to fans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, foursquare, and Google+. In addition, the organization expanded the Olympic Athletes’ Social Media Hub to include Live Athlete Q&A, Faces of Olympians and Olympic Challenge prediction game.

Eight days to go until the London 2012 Summer Olympics – the IOC speeds up social media strategies.

The Olympic Hub boasts Twitter and Facebook feeds of over 2,000 verified Olympians. For the London 2012 Games, the hub now includes a special category that takes fans “Inside the Olympic Village,” where they can follow live Athlete Q&A and chat directly with their favorite athletes.

In direct collaboration with Instagram, “Faces of Olympians” will showcase a collection of athlete photos taken throughout the London Games.

Finally, the Olympic Challenge game, which will launch in the next days, will allow fans to compete with their friends and other fans to make predictions about events occurring at the London 2012 games.

Beginning 26 July, 2012, fans can win free tickets to Olympic events by taking part in a photo contest on the Olympics Facebook page. Fans can also try their luck on foursquare, looking for a special badge called the “Olympic Ticket” and a chance to win free tickets every day.

We hear among the many PR pros attending the Olympics, a group of staffers from Zeno Group NYC, Kaplow PR & Porter Novelli will be attending.