IELTS Essay # 102 - Major companies use sport events to promote their products. Some people think it has a negative effect on sport. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include examples from your own experience.

Essay # 102

Major companies use sport events to promote their products. Some people think it has a negative effect on sport. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include examples from your own experience.

Advertising has hugely taken over the field of sports. From commercials on TV between breaks, to the uniforms the sportsmen wear, companies try to promote their products everywhere. While it is beneficial for the companies, it does have some drawbacks on the part of players and spectators.

If we take the example of cricket matches in India, we can say that advertising a product here will work wonders for the companies. Cricket is the most popular sport in India and millions of people watch the cricket matches religiously. We already see that the Indian cricket team’s costume and equipment is heavily laden with labels of various companies. Advertisements are repeated in every break which hammers the product into the audience’s minds. This way, advertisers earn a lot of sales from such promotions.

However, many times the cricketers are asked to promote a brand by thanking the brand in the interviews they give. They are also asked to display brand logos to the camera for advertisement. Athletes that are brand ambassadors to certain brands have a great pressure to keep their image at their best in media and public. Companies pay huge sums of money to players for their endorsements, and this can tempt the players into earning more money in this manner rather than playing. All these things eventually distract a player from his focus towards the game or sport he is supposed to represent.

To sum up, advertising in sports events is appropriate only if it is limited. Excessive promotions take the whole essence of sports and gaming out of the event.

(263 words)