Olympics & socialgov: Gold-worthy posts from the government social media community
Contributed blog by Angie Ramirez, Freelance Writer at Government Social Media®
Ah, the Olympics—a time of patriotism, awe-inspiring athleticism, and, of course, Snoop Dogg memes. As the 2024 Paris Olympics wrap up, we can’t let the moment pass without giving a standing ovation to some of the true champions: those behind the keyboards in the government social media community.
International events like the Olympics create the perfect backdrop for government agencies to join global conversations, connect with your local communities, and deliver creative PSAs that hit the mark. Let’s take a look at some of the top posts from local, state, and federal agencies that went for the gold by masterfully leveraging the Olympic spirit for local impact.
DC Public Library
Libraries were the MVPs of the GSM community when it came to Olympic banter. These memes from the DC Public Library (@dcpubliclibrary) are a perfect blend of humor and purpose, encouraging the community to dive into library services.
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Groveport Ohio Police
Groveport Ohio Police took their shot—literally! To remind drivers to slow down in school zones, they shared a brilliant back-to-school PSA on Facebook, “announcing” they recruited Turkish Olympic Air Pistol Silver Medalist Yusef Dikec, to run the radar gun.
Haters will say it’s fake, but we’re here for the creativity.
National Park Service
What’s more American than the National Park Service (@nationalparkservice), Team USA, and the First Lady joining forces? The National Park Service collaborated on a Reel where rangers wished Team USA good luck from iconic U.S. landmarks. It’s the patriotic content we didn’t know we needed.
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City of Lakewood, Colorado Parks
Okay, I might be a little biased with this one, but my City of Lakewood team deserves a shoutout for this creative post from our Bear Creek Lake Park Facebook Page. We handed out our own medals to local wildlife with Olympic-worthy stats. Who knew nature could be so competitive?
City of Jacksonville Recreation & Parks
Jacksonville, NC’s Recreation & Parks Department had a blast with the Olympics too. They rode the wave of iconic Snoop Dogg memes to celebrate department wins, remind the public to wear sunscreen, and more. When it comes to engaging the community with humor, they definitely stuck the landing.
City of Las Vegas
Several cities took the opportunity to celebrate their local Olympians, and the City of Las Vegas made sure their very own Katie Grimes got the recognition she deserved. Who wants to bet she put her silver medal in a trophy cabinet right next to the Key to the City?
Kankakee Public Library
Alright, I can’t resist giving a few more library shoutouts because they’re just too good! The Kankakee Public Library used memes to perfectly capture the feelings all library patrons know too well—like the satisfaction of getting your name on the hold list before everyone else. That’s a gold medal moment if there ever was one.
Hoboken Public Library
The Hoboken Public Library nailed the relatable meme game too, especially with their post about finding prime stroller parking before StoryTime—a feat that every parent knows is deserving of a gold medal.
Who gets the gold?
The competition is fierce, but let’s be real—every one of these posts is a winner in our book. And, it’s not just these posts: Every government social media manager out there is a champion, doing the hard work to engage communities, spread important messages, and, yes, make us laugh along the way.
Did we miss any of your favorite Olympic-inspired posts? Share them with us on the Government Social Media Community Facebook group or the free GSM network. And remember, whether you’re creating memes, PSAs, or heartwarming tributes, you’re making a big impact—one post at a time.
Meet the author
Angela Ramirez (Pitts)
Freelance Writer - Government Social Media LLC
Angela is an award-winning government communicator who is passionate about leveraging social media to build strong relationships between government agencies and the people they serve. During her tenure with the City of Tampa, Angela proudly maintained a dynamic social media presence for the City, telling Tampa’s story through historic events, including the Super Bowl, the COVID-19 pandemic, major hurricanes, and more. She also helped establish a community-centric social media following for the City, growing the @cityoftampa Instagram profile from less than 1k followers to over 100k in under five years.
She has recently moved to the beautiful state of Colorado and now serves as Communications Manger for the City of Lakewood, the 5th largest city in the state. Her passion for government social media continues as she strives to be a thought leader in the field. She takes immense pride in the connections she’s made with social media professionals across the nation.
Angela earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida and is currently completing her master's degree in Digital Strategy from the University of Florida. In her free time, you can find her scrolling Instagram Reels, spending time with her husband and dog, or planning her next big adventure.
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