Samsung Electronics announced on Tuesday it will extend its partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through 2028, from the original 2020 end date of the collaboration. The two parties signed an agreement at a ceremony at the Hotel Shilla in central Seoul in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, as well as other executives from the company and officials from the committee.
Samsung said it will continue as a Worldwide Olympic Partner in the wireless communications equipment and computing equipment category and promote the artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and 5G features of the supplied equipment. Samsung will continue the support beyond the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 through to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The agreement also covers the Youth Olympic Games through 2028.
Samsung will continue to support the IOC, the national Olympic Committee and the teams, the technology company added. The company will remain a Worldwide Partner of the International Paralympic Committee, extending a relationship that began in 2006.
In collaboration with the IOC and the Organizing Committees, Samsung plans to continue its Athlete Phone Program. Under this program, it provides Olympic Edition Galaxy phones to all participating Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
“As part of the agreement, the IOC and Samsung will further develop their strategic digital collaboration to engage young generations around the world in order to promote the power of sport and the values of Olympism,” Samsung said in a statement.
“As a Worldwide Olympic Partner for the last 22 years, Samsung has been inspired by the spirit of hope, friendship and unity,” said Koh Dong-jin, president and CEO of the IT and mobile communications division at Samsung Electronics. “Through our innovative wireless and computing equipment, which supports AI, VR, AR and 5G technology, we hope to spread the excitement of the games so that fans and athletes around the world can stay connected and share in the journey to achieve greatness at the highest level of sportsmanship.”