SB In Rio de Janeiro - Nike HyperVenom Launch Recap
The bar has been set. For the launch of the HyperVenom Nike held nothing back. We were told to expect something special as we flew out to Rio. Nike know how to build hype (you might have noticed) and this time it worked. The world watched as Neymar unveiled the HyperVenom in front of a media frenzied crowd.
For Nike, this event was the end result of years of hard work and preparation. When it comes to football, for Nike, it's quite simply about innovation. How can they challenge themselves to bring new technologies to the game each year. The HyperVenom is Nike's first step on their road to Brazil 2014 and marks another chapter in their football evolution.
The HyperVenom storm swept in sports and technology journalists from all across the world, eager to see what Nike had been cooking for the past two years. Not for a long time have Nike invested so much in a boot and it's no wonder when you look at who's gong to wear them.
Taking place in a converted industrial building in Rio de Janeiro, this is where they launched their latest defining moment. Nike creative chiefs from Trevor Edwards (executive VP), to Phil McCartney (Nike Football Footwear VP) to Martin Lotti (Nike Football Creative Director) were all in town.
Fresh from signing a deal with Barcelona, Neymar arrived in Rio to kick off the event by opening the HyperVenom box on stage before taking a seat for a quick Q A about his involvement with the HyperVenom. "I talked with Nike about design, wore some models prototypes until it fitted properly and featured what I wanted. It s a very comfortable football boot. I like boots that are comfortable. Better for fit and touch as well."
"I said that it should be comfortable and improve my game. It can t be just beautiful and not comfortable. So they managed to make it beautiful and comfortable and with more technology - so this helped me a lot. It s an honor to be part of this team, innovating with a new football boot. And now I hope the boot plays by itself and scores goals for me.
Neymar has been Nike's core player throughout the development of the HyperVenom. Neymar s input was invaluable. He had been wearing the Mercurial Vapor IX boot, a pure speed product designed to help athletes look and find space to beat a man. The Hypervenom focuses on creating the space in order to put the ball in the net. said Phil McCartney, VP Nike Football, Footwear.
Stay tuned for exclusive interviews with Nike's Phil McCartney and Martin Lippi. Check out our full feature on the Nike HyperVenom right here. Let us know what you think. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
