Olympic Storytelling Deserves a Gold Medal
Journalism Public Relations

Olympic Storytelling Deserves a Gold Medal

By Alyssa Zinar

Have you ever noticed that even the smallest of newsrooms have sports writers? Local weekly papers have at least one writer reporting on high school sports and the more major players like The Philadelphia Inquirer have 29 sports reporters, editors and columnists to cover the professional landscape, more than its Health and Business & Built Environment beats combined according to its online newsroom.

It’s no secret that stories about sports, and the people who play them, whether on the court, the field, or in the community score big with audiences.  

Paris 2024 Olympics

Right now, all eyes are on the Paris 2024 Olympics. TVs across the globe tune in to quad-box displays of athleticism at all hours of the day, including my own. Every flip, dive, swim, run excites me, but it’s the stories of the athletes, their journeys and their legacies, that captivate me. 

There’s gymnast Suni Lee’s comeback after being diagnosed with an incurable kidney disease, swimmer Caleb Dressel’s return to the sport after stepping away from the sport for two years to improve his mental health, and fencer Nada Hafez from Egypt who just competed while seven-months pregnant. And of course, you can’t forget the unstoppable Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky

I revel in their triumphs, thanks to the news stories, video packages, and live announcing from sports journalists from outlets big and small.

The Olympics are a reminder of how important storytelling is. Storytelling fosters connections. Storytelling uplifts voices. Storytelling transforms facts and events into experiences that resonate with people on a personal level. Through storytelling games become more than just competitions; they become narratives of human endeavor, drama, and passion.

Podium-worthy Olympics Storytelling

@nytimes

Katie Ledecky 🇺🇸 won her 12th medal, in the 1,500-meter freestyle. She is now tied for the most ever by a U.S. woman. See more Olympics results at the link in our bio. #Olympics #Swimming

♬ original sound – The New York Times

In case you’re not keeping track of the medal count as closely as I am, here’s a few great sports stories you might have missed. 

At Devine + Partners, a Philadelphia public relations agency, our passion is telling stories that inspire people to action. Let us help tell your company’s stories, drop us a line at resteasy@devinepartners.com.

Alyssa Zinar

Alyssa Zinar

In her role as Associate Vice President and Senior Digital News Producer, Alyssa provides client strategy and support, manages social media pages, and engages in media outreach, strategic communications, event planning, in-depth research and video content creation.