Did Samsung Try To Ban Apple Logos From The Olympics Opening Ceremony?

Did Samsung Try To Ban Apple Logos From The Olympics Opening Ceremony?

Lucky Olympic athletes taking part in the Sochi Winter Olympics found a Samsung Galaxy Note III in their arrival goodie bags, so even if they don’t take home a medal they still have something of a fairly high value to sell on the internet when they get home. But did Samsung demand they avoid being seen using Apple hardware as part of the deal?

That is indeed what happened according to a group of Swiss athletes, who claim their free Galaxy Note IIIs were accompanied by a sweet request from Samsung asking them to physically tape over the Apple logos on rival phones they may use instead to take their endless selfies during the opening ceremony.

But they were lying or confused, apparently, as the IOC has since said: “No it is not true. Athletes can use any device they wish during the Opening Ceremony. The normal rules apply just as per previous Games.” Samsung, meanwhile, insisted that it “did not request any action of this nature from athletes attending the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.”

So it sounds like it may have happened, then was quickly pulled when word of it got out. Perhaps a rogue goodie bag stuffer got a bit too keen on spreading the corporate love? [Guardian via CultofMac]


Did Samsung Try To Ban Apple Logos From The Olympics Opening Ceremony?
Gizmodo UK is gobbling up the news in a different timezone — so check them out if you need another Giz fix.


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

It’s the most popular NBN speed in Australia for a reason. Here are the cheapest plans available.

At Gizmodo, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.