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Entertainment Lions for Sport

The Entertainment Lions for Sport celebrate creativity that taps into fan culture and leverages the power of sports and esports in connecting people to brands.

Introduction

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The history of the Entertainment Lions for Sport

The Entertainment Lions for Sport were introduced in 2019 to celebrate the unique and powerful intersection of sports, entertainment, and branding. This specialist Lion was created to recognise work that leverages the universal appeal and cultural significance of sports to create compelling and impactful campaigns. From collaborations with athletes and teams to activations at major sporting events and branded sports content, the Entertainment Lions for Sport honour creativity that captures the passion, energy, and community spirit inherent in sports.

Since its inception, this Lion has celebrated groundbreaking work that harnesses the emotional power of sports to create meaningful connections between brands and audiences worldwide.

What kind of work can be entered?

Eligible work may include campaigns featuring partnerships with athletes, teams, or leagues; branded sports content such as documentaries, commercials, or digital series; and activations at live sporting events or tournaments. This Lion also embraces innovative use of technology in sports marketing, such as augmented reality, virtual fan experiences, or interactive campaigns that engage audiences.

The work may also highlight grassroots initiatives that use sports to drive social impact or community-building, as well as collaborations that create memorable moments through sponsorships or immersive fan experiences. Ultimately, the work should showcase how sports can serve as a dynamic platform for storytelling, emotional engagement, and delivering tangible results for brands.

What are the Jury looking for?

The work should demonstrate how sports can be a powerful platform for storytelling, cultural relevance, and meaningful brand connections. That is, work that goes beyond traditional sponsorships or endorsements to create innovative, emotionally engaging, and memorable experiences for audiences. The work should also show how effectively the campaign aligns with the brand's objectives while delivering measurable results, whether through fan engagement, community impact, or commercial success.

Adidas

RUNNER 321 | ADIDAS | FCB TORONTO | GOLD, ENTERTAINMENT LIONS FOR SPORT | 2024

The categories

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A. Branded Content for Sport

Creative content crafted to build awareness for a brand by associating it with culture and values through sport.

B. Sport-Led Brand Experience

Meaningful, engaging experiences and activations created to attract or maintain an audience.

C. Community

Work that focuses on the development, maintenance and nurturing of a community or fanbase.

D. Partnerships

Exceptional strategic partnerships between brands and sports-related entities.

E. Challenges & Breakthroughs

Creative and innovative work that is brought to life through deep cultural insight, regional context and progressive thinking.

Eligibility

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Work will need to have been executed during the eligibility period of 8 February 2024 – 10 April 2025.

Is there a limit to how many times I can enter?

There is no overall limit to how many times the same piece of work can be entered into Entertainment Lions for Sport as long as the categories chosen are relevant.

Esports may be entered across all categories within the Entertainment Lions for Sports.

RC Celta

OLIVEIRA DOS CEN ANOS | REAL CLUB CELTA | REAL CLUB CELTA, VIGO | GOLD, ENTERTAINMENT LIONS FOR SPORT | 2024

Previous Winners and inspiration

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WoMen’s Football

Cannes Lions 2024 Grand Prix Marcel Paris / Orange / 2024

French Telco and partner of the French Football Federation Orange used deepfake technology to combat prejudice and promote the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The film attracted over 200m organic views and over 450 pieces of cross-media PR coverage.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL | ORANGE | MARCEL PARIS | GRAND PRIX, ENTERTAINMENT LIONS FOR SPORT | 2024

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What influenced the winning work?

The Entertainment Lions for Sport Jury awarded this work the Grand Prix for its ability to combine creative excellence with cultural impact. The work stood out for its innovative approach, using storytelling and technology to celebrate and amplify the meteoric rise of women’s football.

Jury President Louise Johnson praised the work for “brilliantly capturing the spirit of a movement,” highlighting how it not only showcased the growth of women’s football but also contributed to its global momentum. By integrating cutting-edge technology with compelling narratives, the campaign connected with diverse audiences, breaking through traditional barriers and creating a sense of inclusivity and inspiration.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL | ORANGE | MARCEL PARIS | GRAND PRIX, ENTERTAINMENT LIONS FOR SPORT | 2024

WoMen's Football

Inside the Jury Room: Entertainment Lions for Sport

To hear more from the Jury and how they decided on the winning work, check out the video below.

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Entries & Judging

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What is the judging criteria?

A number of criteria will be considered during judging, weighted as follows: 30% creative idea; 20% strategy & insight; 30% craft & execution; 20% results.

What do I need to provide with my entry?

To enter, you’ll need to complete an online entry form, which can be found on the Cannes Lions entry site . In the ‘Written Explanation’ section, you’ll be asked to provide the Jury with everything they need to know about your work.

You’ll also be able to submit optional supporting materials to provide additional context with your entry.

All case films, films, demo films and original content must be subtitled in English.

Detailed information outlining the entry process can be found on A Guide to the Cannes Lions Awards.

What if I don’t have all the details right away?

Don’t worry – you can fill in the form in any order and save your progress at any time while it’s still in the pending stage. However, please only check out when your entry is 100% complete as no changes can be made to your entry once you’ve clicked “Submit” and “Checkout”.

The Written Submission

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Here’s the questions you’ll be asked regarding your work.

To start your entry to the Entertainment Lions for Sport, go to our Awards page.

The Jury will refer to the written explanation you provide throughout the judging process. Our advice is to provide as much relevant detail as possible.

When answering the following questions keep the main element you’re trying to celebrate in mind (e.g. the storytelling, the strategy, the craft, the use of data).

The bullet points under each question are prompts designed to guide your thinking, based on the factors the jury will be considering when reviewing your work. You might not need to use them all, and that’s totally fine. They’re there to help you consider what’s most important in your work.

Questions

Category Specific Questions

Argentina

LA ARGENTINA HOTEL | TYC SPORTS | MERCADO McCANN, BUENOS AIRES | BRONZE, ENTERTAINMENT LIONS FOR SPORT | 2024

Contact us

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Everything you need to know to enter

For more detailed information on how to use the entry site, craft a compelling submission or submit your work we have a whole range of resources.

From Entry Guides that give you a step-by-step overview of the entire process to the Entry Kits that provide all the detailed rules and requirements for each and every category.

Information and advice on how to enter

We are here to help

As Awards Experts, we know the Lions inside out. We can help with:

  • Sharing the updates to the Awards for 2025
  • Offering best-practice advice on how to craft a compelling entry
  • Discussing your work and relevant categories
  • Scheduling regular catch-ups to answer any questions that arise throughout the entry process.

Whether you have a specific query or would like expert advice, get in touch today.

Email: awards@canneslions.com Helpline: +44 0 20 7046 1155