Samsung and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have extended their partnership through the year 2020. This keeps Samsung around as a top sponsor for the Olympics. As a top sponsor, the two have been partners since the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan; however, Samsung was a local sponsor for the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea. The role as top sponsor “directly supports the staging of every Olympic Games, as well as every one of the National Olympic Committees, enabling athletes from all over the world to prepare for and compete at each Games,” according to the IOC’s president Thomas Bach.

To celebrate the extension, Thomas Bach and Samsung vice chairman Jay Y. Lee wrote their signatures on the company’s Galaxy Note Pro tablet.

Hit the break for the full press release.

Samsung Extends Olympic Games Partnership Through 2020

August 17, 2014Samsung signs an agreement with the IOC in the “Wireless Communications Equipment and Computing Equipment” to expand their product category and strengthen its commitment to the Olympic Movement?

Nanjing, China – August 17, 2014 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, announced it has signed an agreement  to extend their partnership through to the 2020 Olympic Games. The signing ceremony took place on August 17th in Nanjing, China, the host city of the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games. IOC President Thomas Bach and Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman at Samsung Electronics attended the ceremony.

“Samsung aims to spread the Olympic spirit through our innovative products, enabling all fans around the world to stay connected and share the excitement of the Olympic Movement,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “We are proud to extend our involvement as it is meaningful to us to inspire people through the passion that lies behind the Games and contribute to creating a smarter Olympic Games.”Samsung will officially sponsor the Olympic Games through the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the “Wireless Communications Equipment and Computing Equipment” category. This expanded product category includes smartphones, tablets, laptops, personal computers and other computing equipment, and desktop printers.?

“We are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with Samsung. The funding generated by the TOP Programme directly supports the staging of every Olympic Games, as well as every one of the National Olympic Committees, enabling athletes from all over the world to prepare for and compete at each Games,” said Thomas Bach, IOC President. “Samsung also supports the operations of each Games by providing leading wireless telecommunications and technology equipment. In addition, Samsung’s technologies and global marketing reach will engage fans around the world with the Olympic values and the Olympic Movement.”?

Samsung’s association with the Olympic Movement began when the company became a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Since the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, Samsung has joined the TOP (The Olympic Partner) Programme and has been a Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category. The company’s role has evolved throughout 26 years of its involvement with the Olympic Games.?

As mobile technologies have become an inseparable part of our daily lives, Samsung believes its continued support will play a significant role in bringing further innovation to the staging of the Olympic Games.

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