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If Samsung were to walk up to me and hand me a $650 phone for the low, low price of nothing, with the only catch being that I have to use it in lieu of my normal phone during the 2-3 hours of the opening ceremony, would I take it?

Hell yeah, I'd take it. Comeon. Free phone.

You'd do it for a hotpocket. And it wouldn't even have to be heated up.
 
And if a large number of athletes did that, would there be any games?

To be perfectly clear: Laws should always be observed. Rules are up for negotiation. Don't confuse the two.

Athletes around the world are going to boycott the olympics because they don't get to flash their Apple gadgets, yeah that's realistic :rolleyes:

The IOC can do this because that would never happen, so the IOC has the upper hand in this "negotiation".
Also, it's pretty ignorant to expect athletes to boycott an event because of something as trivial as a gadget when they wont even boycott it for taking place in Russia where hate, bigotry, oppression and violence is on the rise thanks to government policy.
 
They're asked to cover the logos (during the opening ceremony), not to stop using their phone. Displaying logos is certainly comparable to "mention".

I did not say that they were told to stop using their phones:

"I find it questionable that the usage of a non-sponsored phone in public without mentioning the brand explicitly would break those rules."

Rule 40 explicitly refers to "other sponsors". If the athlete isn't sponsored by Apple I can't see why this should apply.

So far I haven't found any information on who exactly is pursuing this - Samsung based on their own personal interpretation of Rule 40, or Samsung carrying out instructions by the IOC or if it's the IOC in first place demanding the "cover up" leaving Samsung no choice but instructing the athletes to hide the logo.
 
Athletes around the world are going to boycott the olympics because they don't get to flash their Apple gadgets, yeah that's realistic :rolleyes:

"Boycott" is hyperbole. More like civil disobedience: Ignore the rule on the day. What's the IOC going to do in the moment?
 
For certain, silly you! You have no idea what you're talking about. Who do you think pays for these events? These companies spend $milions in sponsoring (subsidizing) these events and in return the IOC provides exclusivity. Samsung would have asked for nothing, if anyone asked for anything at all.

My company was a Tier 2 sponsor at the London Olympics (we sponsored the GB rowing team, google away) and we were involved in numerous elements of the infrastructure, however because our main competitor was a Tuer 1 sponsor, we were (and still are) prohibited to refer to or make any reference to the Olympics in any of our advertising or marketing - IOC rules, not at the request of our competitor. The London Olympics were known as a "large event taking place in London in 2012" to us!

They get to advertise around the grounds, sure - but that opening ceremony took things to a new level that I'm not comfortable with. It wasn't nearly as enjoyable when it was so obvious I was watching a commercial.
 
No. I meant if they were already in the parade.

What could the IOC do in that moment? Throw a blanket over them? Cuff them? :)

Oh I don't know - isn't it possible that those participating would be screened before going out and participating. If they are found with a device that goes against the rule - they could be asked to put it in a locker, or whatnot.

How many people do you think will willfully try and get by security measures just to make sure their Apple (or other) device can get screen time?
 
No. I meant if they were already in the parade.

What could the IOC do in that moment? Throw a blanket over them? Cuff them? :)

With some of the responses here you'd think it was this. But they're probably searched before being allowed to participate.
 

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ONLY TO YOU

It's not a joke to the athletes.

I'm referring to the location, organization and overall experience. Nothing against the athletes. They don't pick the location.

If you haven't been following, Sochi is like a 3rd world country with yellow water, buildings forever in construction, hotels can't keep reservations right, etc. I don't know why anyone would think Russia is a good place to hold the Olympics.
 
Oh I don't know - isn't it possible that those participating would be screened before going out and participating. If they are found with a device that goes against the rule - they could be asked to put it in a locker, or whatnot.

If we go back to the first sentence of the article...

[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

I think that means something like stickers over the apple logos. Ever heard of wardrobe sticker failure?

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Worst Olympics ever.

Well he wouldn't get in for a start :)
 
If we go back to the first sentence of the article...



I think that means something like stickers over the apple logos. Ever heard of wardrobe sticker failure?


Again - how many athletes are going to be that passionate as to break the rule when they've worked so hard to get there in the first place. Not because there's fear of being removed. But because it's just a stupid "protest" to make in the first place.
 
Again - how many athletes are going to be that passionate as to break the rule when they've worked so hard to get there in the first place. Not because there's fear of being removed. But because it's just a stupid "protest" to make in the first place.

:eek: Blasphemy! I will give up on my countless years of training to proudly represent my country because I have to cover the Apple logo on my iPhone that is already covered by my case.

See how that sounds? :p
 
Again - how many athletes are going to be that passionate as to break the rule when they've worked so hard to get there in the first place.

I don't know. We'll see.

Athletes have competitive personality types. They're passionate by nature. It got them where they are. The question in my mind is whether corporate interests should be allowed to intrude further into an amateur activity? Is it good for the games, or does it turn people off?
 
How'd you know about my hotpocket deal? I thought only Sam and Scruff were privy to that information.

...oh wait. Scruff. The poster child for loose lips sinks ships. Nevermind.

It's not fair, they send you to Russia for the Olympics. You get to rub elbows with athletes from around the globe who think your're a great guy because you give them all one of those super cool Note 3 phones. I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't giving out some of the ATIV Book 9 Plus laptops too. And you get paid from Google too since Samsung and Google are partners against Apple. And you get a key to the Executive Washroom while I have to use the dirty one like the rest of the peons. It's not fair.:D:D
 
A clear indication for someone who wanted to pick a fight (so to speak)

I didn't read anything into KDarling's statement where he implied companies do this for altruistic reasons or not.

KDarling is one of the most unbiased posters on this site, IMO. I haven't seen him post anything to start a flame war.

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And what are they going to do if people decide that actually, they won't cover their logos?

Since it's Russia, they may send them to the Gulag. :eek:

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Everything about the Olympics this year is a joke.

I'll bet it's not to the thousands of athletes that are competing. :)
 
If Samsung were to walk up to me and hand me a $650 phone for the low, low price of nothing, with the only catch being that I have to use it in lieu of my normal phone during the 2-3 hours of the opening ceremony, would I take it?

Hell yeah, I'd take it. Comeon. Free phone.

You already get your phone free. :D:D

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Have you ever had a frozen hotpocket, Sam?

THEY'RE DELICIOUS! :D

Hard on the teeth though.
 
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