Internet Helps Send Jamaican Bobsled Team to Sochi
The Internet loves two things: banding together to help those in need, and '90s nostalgia. So when the Jamaican bobsled team (made famous in the 1993 film "Cool Runnings") needed help getting to Sochi, people flocked to their rescue.
The Jamaican bobsled team qualified to compete in Sochi after a 12-year absence from the Olympics. Unfortunately, the team has no official funding, and needed at least $80,000 to be able to afford equipment, clothing and training.
Two crowdfunding platforms - Indiegogo and Crowdtilt - were created to raise funds for the team, and in three days, they've amassed $125,000 and counting.
A large percentage of donations came from an effort started on Reddit. Users were encouraged to donate to the team in the form of dogecoins, a virtual currency based on the "Doge" meme you've likely seen all over the web.
Yes, it's a strange donation, but it's real. The dogecoins were converted to bitcoins, and then exchanged for dollars. Redditors contributed approximately $30,000 for the bobsled team through dogecoins.
The team made a huge splash at their debut at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, due to the novelty of a tropical nation competing in a winter sport. It was a true underdog story that captivated the public, and got Hollywood's attention, too.
Supporters are calling the crowdfunding effort as #CoolRunnings2, an apt description for a sequel years in the making.
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