Olympic Athletes Requested to Cover Apple Logos During Opening Ceremony Because of Samsung Sponsorship [Updated]

[Stella]

If Samsung's product was more desirable, then giving a free Note 3 to every athlete should automatically lead to a plethora of Samsung logos during the opening ceremonies parade. Now that this story is news it is nothing but bad press for Samsung.

I would imagine most people don't give two hoots that Samsung asked for Apple logos to be covered up.

The average person on the street isn't going to change their purchasing decision to not buy Samsung because of this story.

But yes - Samsung should give a phone to the athletes. It wouldn't cost Samsung much money.

 

[AppleScruff1]

If Samsung's product was more desirable, then giving a free Note 3 to every athlete should automatically lead to a plethora of Samsung logos during the opening ceremonies parade. Now that this story is news it is nothing but bad press for Samsung.

And the only people who think it's bad press are the people who read Apple forums. It won't even be a blip on the radar to the general public.

 

[uknowimright]

I wouldn't even want to use my phone/tablet in Russia anyway


puts on tinfoil hat

 

[aerok]

Excuse me, but we have a situation here where the world's greatest athletes could be banned from participating in the Olympic games for using their phones. How can anyone call this "normal"?

Look at the rivary sponsorship between Coca Cola and Pepsi, it's nothing new.

 

[osofast240sx]

Could you please provide a source for this claim? I'm not being a jerk, I just did not see anything that said this. All I saw was a reiteration of the same policy that has always existed. If you show me, I'll stand corrected.

I understand it's the Olympic policy but I was just going off of the first sentence in the article, Which may or may not be true.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Apparently athletes preferred iPhones to Samsung phones. But then it is widely known that Samsung outspends anyone in the marketing department. The only way to make athletes not use their iPhones is to threaten them with not being able to compete.

Except that the threat comes from the IOC, not Samsung.

 

[gnasher729]

Understandable.

Samsung paid a lot of money for sponsorship, why would they want Apple to get free advertising due to Apple's products being on TV?

How does what Samsung wants trump an athletes right to buy and use the product that they want?

Except that the threat comes from the IOC, not Samsung.

How exactly does that make a difference?

 

[Snowy_River]

...Look at the 2008 Winter games...

Uh... The Winter Olympics happen every four years on even, non-leap years. Going back, that's 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002, etc. What games exactly are you referring to?

...just ethnically wrong...

Ethnically wrong? I think an "n" snuck in where it wasn't meant to be...

Yeah, fanboyism is rampant in this thread.

C'mon guys, we've all seen the TV shows and movies where the actor is clearing using an Apple product but the Apple logo is either covered up or edited out.

For that matter, other company logos too, not just Apple. Ever seen the villain drive a Ford SUV with a nondescript oval where the logo should be? Or a Toyota vehicle with no badge visible? On Stargate Atlantis they used what look like Dell Latitude D800 series laptops everywhere, but the rear panel is conveniently covered with an Atlantis crest where the Dell logo should be.

Well put. Especially in light of past events, it's not unreasonable for Samsung to want to try to limit Apple brand exposure. It doesn't seem like they are invoking Rule 40, but rather trying to coerce the athletes by offering them free goodies in return for covering Apple logos.

What if it was Apple that had sponsored the Olympics and decreed "no Samsung logos visible please"? The tone in this thread would be far, far different.

And here's where you lost me. I see this type of comment again and again. While it's true that there are some people that wouldn't comment negatively on a move like this by Apple, there are enough around the web and, yes, even on MR that would that I don't think that you'd see a dramatically different tone in this thread if the shoe was on the other foot, so to speak. So, put away your holier-than-thou attitude. It's just as unbecoming as the fanboyism of others.

For all of you bashing Samsung, you need to read the article more closely. The Olympic Committee asked this and it has always been done...

Read the article more closely?

Olympic athletes are being asked by Samsung to cover any Apple logos on their devices during the Parade of Nations at the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony because Samsung is a lead worldwide sponsor of the Games...

"...being asked by Samsung..." seems to make it pretty clear that this is action being taken by Samsung, not just the IOC. Perhaps you need to follow your own advice?

********

On the topic of Rule 40 and the need to protect sponsors because without them there wouldn't be any Olympics, it seems to me that this attitude is where the problem lies. I doubt that elimination of sponsors would eliminate the Games. It might dramatically transform them. That transformation could be a very good thing. Right now, the Olympics are rife with commercialism. Would it be so bad to try to get back to a sense of amateurism?

 

[macidiot]

Wow guys, this is normal practice.

Something similar happened with the first Spiderman movie, where Sony wanted to hide Samsung's logo during the scene that happens in Time Square.

It is a very common practice and I can assure you that any other company would've done the same if they were the main sponsor, including Apple but then again, does Apple ever sponsor anything? Their fault, not Samsung's.

I think that this is different. You might be talking about licensing issues. Sony didn't want to advertise a competitor on one of its products (movie). That is the equivalent of Apple doesn't want a Samsung logo on the iPad. Or a Samsung commercial pre-loaded on the iPad.

What Samsung is doing is utterly cheesy.

It is one thing to have rules regarding athletic performance and equipment. But this is simply corporate greed and stupidity. Unless Samsung is directly paying an athlete in a sponsorship deal, they should have ZERO say in what products and brands that athlete chooses to use.

 

[pan88]

That's the most asinine request I've heard in a while. Why doesn't Samsung just give all the athletes Samsung devices to use during the ceremony if they're so concerned about it?

That's exactly what Samsung is doing: donating 2'500 phones to the athletes against the promise to refrain from yielding any other brand during the opening ceremony. Time to re-think deeply about the Olympic Games, the fact that it has grown to such obscene proportions that only corrupt and totalitarian nations are able to host, and that only completely cynical sponsors such as Samsung are willing to support. Hunger Games.

 

[aerok]

True, but what a bummer to be forced into using a sub-par camera to capture one's Olympic memories when there are pros leaving their DSLRs behind for the iPhone 5S.

Umh no... A Pro SLR is a must for Olympic games.

 

[kdarling]

Wow guys, this is normal practice.

Something similar happened with the first Spiderman movie, where Sony wanted to hide Samsung's logo during the scene that happens in Time Square.

Plus the way that Apple infamously bars the mention of Android in anyone's Apple App Store descriptions or app.

(E.g. an author cannot promote his app by saying, "Most popular Android game now on iOS!", nor have his app mention it.)

It is a very common practice and I can assure you that any other company would've done the same if they were the main sponsor, including Apple but then again, does Apple ever sponsor anything? Their fault, not Samsung's.

I think it's sad/ironic that we see Samsung ads supporting this free Apple fan forum, but never see Apple doing so.

 

[garylapointe]

Olympic iPhone cases

If I were Samsung, I'd put really really nice iPhone 4 and 5 cases with the olympic logos on them that the athletes would want to use in their bags. Otherwise who knows what people will cover the logos with, because that would make the news cycle.

If I were an Apple fan and athlete, I'd be tempted to pass out stickers with apples on them (not the apple logo) and give them to the other athletes. The apples would stick out more and (again) make the news cycle (and blogs and Facebook). The stickers could even be grapes, just so it's consistent (and silly).

Gary

 

[osofast240sx]

I would imagine most people don't give two hoots that Samsung asked for Apple logos to be covered up.

The average person on the street isn't going to change their purchasing decision to not buy Samsung because of this story.

But yes - Samsung should give a phone to the athletes. It wouldn't cost Samsung much money.

Something like this could be spun to have a negative affect on Samsung. It could easily go viral.

 

[mejsric]

For all you TL;DR folks, here it is again.

"All accredited competitors, coaches, trainers and officials are required to abide by Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter, preventing athletes from mentioning any non-Olympic sponsor companies. Athletes breaking Rule 40 can be punished with "removal of accreditation and financial penalties" or even total disqualification."

Athlete 1: what is the brand of your phone?
Athlete 2: iPhone?
Athlete 1: ha! Your disqualified!!! Rule 40
Referee : i heard that. Now go home

 

[Nunyabinez]

If Samsung asked me to do that I would be wearing a apple hat and holding my iPad and iPhone showing only the back wear the apple is!!!!!!!!!! I hate samsung so much!!! And why should anyone care about what they same who made them the boss. Just because they are sponsoring a event that would happen with no funds what so ever doesn't me they can cover up logos not sponsoring. To me if I was concidering a product and herd that I would turn in the other direction and run run as fast as I can. I don't want to be with a company like that.

If you were participating in an event made possible by Coke, would you waive a Pepsi around? I am a die-hard Apple fan, but if I were an Olympic athlete (sadly not even close) and they asked me to cover my Apple logo, I would do it because that's what the rules state, and I think there are better things to take a moral stand on than this.

 

[Daalseth]

Quick, somebody print up a bunch of stickers that say I Hate Samsung and Samsung Sucks and get them to the athletes. That'll show those weaselly B*******.

 

[djtech42]

I'm pretty sure it's still going to be obvious which devices are Apple devices and how many people have them.

 

[slattery69]

How does what Samsung wants trump an athletes right to buy and use the product that they want?



How exactly does that make a difference?

As there the rules I'm sure there are athletes that would prefer to not be drug tested but they will be

 

[AppleScruff1]

How does what Samsung wants trump an athletes right to buy and use the product that they want?



How exactly does that make a difference?

NO ONE said they have to use a Samsung phone. They are not being prohibited from using their iPhones. Samsung doesn't make the rules, the IOC does and the athletes agree to follow them in order to compete, just like they do in every organised sport on earth.

 

[Lennholm]

This is all true but you don't exactly get what this story is about.

Samsung wants Olympics participants to conceal the Apple logo on their personal iPhones/iPads while taking personal pictures and videos during the opening ceremonies, events, etc.

Apple is not a competing sponsor logo as you describe it, it is just a product brand of mobile phone lots of athletes personally use and own. Samsung doesn't want the iconic Apple logo on the back of the iPhone or iPad to be seen on the television broadcast so they are attempting to distort reality.






True, but what a bummer to be forced into using a sub-par camera to capture one's Olympic memories when there are pros leaving their DSLRs behind for the iPhone 5S.

Exactly where did you read the "Samsung wants..." part?

Samsung are right when they request logos on apparel and equipment to be covered... They can't and shouldn't force people to hide logos from personal products... That is ********...

So why would a company like, lets say Nike, be afforded the privilege of not having their competitors shown and not Samsung just because Nike is in the clothing business? Or to put it in another way, why should the athletes be allowed to use their personal gadgets during IOC's event when they're not allowed to wear their personal clothes?

 

[BornAgainMac]

In 2014, Androids are in the Olympics.

 

[LordVic]

Uh... The Winter Olympics happen every four years on even, non-leap years. Going back, that's 2014, 2010, 2006, 2002, etc. What games exactly are you referring to?

Winter and Summer games used to share their years,

2008 was summer,

2006 was what I meant for winter.

i'm getting forgetfull in my 30s

 

[GoCubsGo]

This is utter crap. I've already decided to never buy a Samsung product. Now I can't watch the Olympics. No Samsung, there is this thing called freedom and you can just pound your "rules" up your arse.

Check the manufacturer of your display and other components there before you take a stand. You may find yourself sitting this one out.


It's a low blow by Samsung but can they really enforce this?

 

[ericinboston]

So many blow hard haters on this forum...did any of you haters even read or comprehend the article? I'll summarize it for you:

1. The OLYMPIC committee has Rule #40 which clearly bans Olympiads from showcasing non-sponsor items. Period. If you get caught, there will be punishment. Don't like the rules? Don't join the Olympics.

2. Samsung is a major sponsor of the Olympics this year....please go read my first point again.

Would rule #40 be easier to understand if it were Coca Cola? Or Nike?