All Sochi Olympic athletes to get Galaxy Note 3

*unless they are gay.

You need that astrick mark, because lets not forget Russia is "not allowing homosexuals into the Olympics"

I feel bad for the Athletes. They deserve better than a low quality piece of plastic from Korea.

@inakarob

that is a patently false statement. russia has passed legislation banning "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations." they also passed a measure to "protect religious feelings," which in effect allows the church to criticize homosexual behavior. while these laws are abhorrent and are contrary to human rights and decency, there is no mention of banning entry to gay people.

rickyvee: there is no mention of banning entry to gay people.

Yes, you are correct however, anyone who is "overtly gay" or even says , within the vicinity of a minor, that gay relationships are "socially equal" to straight relationships could be subject to prosecution under Russian law. So, heaven forbid you aren't masculine or feminine enough for the Russian police or are overheard talking about gay rights with a fellow athlete while a 14-year old Russian gymnast is in earshot. It's probably a long shot that you'd get detained but even the fact that the Olympics were given to a country so allergic to basic rights is in itself abhorent.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said competitors who flaunted their sexuality would be punished in accordance with the legislation. "No one is forbidding a sportsperson with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi, but if they go onto the street and start propagandising it, then of course they will be held accountable," Mr Mutko told Russian agency R-Sport during a visit to Barcelona.

Best cell phone on market right now... also the most expensive. $360 in US right now with 2 year contract including tax and fees -_-;

"reflects Samsung’s growing clout"

Giving freebies to promote your brand is NOT a reflection of clout. Confidence, perhaps. Determination, yes. Clout, no connection.

Let's hope they don't explode. No joke.

http://www.ibtimes.com/samsung-galaxy-explosion-5-times-galaxy-devices-have-spontaneously-combusted-1342747

Is Samsung tying up with a local Russian provider, to allow the athletes to make use of these smart phones during the games, without incurring insane roaming charges? Will they be given a pre-paid all-you-can-use data package for 6 weeks and xx in free calling minutes? If so, that's a pretty useful and awesome arragement.

If it's just the brick, that you receive upon arrival, ... I imagine a large number will get sold or given away within Sochi.

Well, they can keep the phones as a way of getting away with some untraceable nookie with other athletes hooked up to Line, then toss the things and get back to their iPhones and proper boyfriends/girfriends.

Smith, don't you know that they have to hide their iPhones, on the risk of being prosecuted for being gay? On a serious note ;I can't imagine that after using a 5.7 inch screen, going back to 4 inch screen is going to be a satisfactory experience. Sure some athletes will stick to their cross eye inducing iPhones....but that's just because of the lovely colors the 5c comes in.

Giving away their smartphones...I wonder if Samsung next step to try to make a splash it actually paying athletes, actors, celebrities to actually use them. Or let be seen using one. Good things are used naturally, they have their own aura of class and refinement. Well, I guess "class and refinement" can't be bought. Or given away...

LostinNagoya: Giving away their smartphones...I wonder if Samsung next step to try to make a splash it actually paying athletes, actors, celebrities to actually use them. Or let be seen using one. Good things are used naturally, they have their own aura of class and refinement. Well, I guess "class and refinement" can't be bought. Or given away...

Ah....you mean like commercials and print advertisements where athletes, actors and celebrities are paid to appear to use something? Yeah, that would just be a disgrace, wouldn't it?

Really, what's the big deal? Athletes and actors who go to big events get "swag baskets" filled with free merchandise all the time. You can't be so out of touch with things that you weren't aware of this. It's pretty common knowledge.

Ah....you mean like commercials and print advertisements where athletes, actors and celebrities are paid to appear to use something? Yeah, that would just be a disgrace, wouldn't it?

Really, what's the big deal? Athletes and actors who go to big events get "swag baskets" filled with free merchandise all the time. You can't be so out of touch with things that you weren't aware of this. It's pretty common knowledge.

Uh? You're talking about commercials and marketing, such as the jewelry used in the Oscar ceremony. Two different things to what Samsung is doing at Sochi. While commercials and marketing sound ok, what Samsung is doing looks like a desperate cry for help, for attention.

lostiinnagoya: Uh? You're talking about commercials and marketing, such as the jewelry used in the Oscar ceremony. Two different things to what Samsung is doing at Sochi. While commercials and marketing sound ok, what Samsung is doing looks like a desperate cry for help, for attention

No, I'm not talking about jewelry that celebrities wear to the Oscars. Swag baskets are given to them at after parties or backstage and as luxurious as many of the items are, they don't amount to the hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, of dollars worth of jewelry that is worn on the red carpet. That jewelry might be from the actor's own collection or borrowed from a jeweler. When interviewed the actor will almost always mention who the jeweler or designer is so, yes, it is a form of marketing. I fail to see how that's different from what Samsung is doing. They're giving away products to people who they know will get a lot of media exposure, be it local or international and who they hope, will be seen using their product or talking about it and thus influence people to buy it. The point is exposure - a.k.a. attention - , the backbone of any good marketing campaign.

According to Salt Lake City based rewards and recognition company O.C. Tanner, the highlights were $600 gold rings they supplied and a Swiss watch from Omega, the official timekeeper of the Games, worth several thousand dollars. The five duffel bags each athlete received contained about 100 items, most from major sponsors like Ralph Lauren, Nike, Oakley, and P&G, with a total of nearly 100,000 free items dispensed to Team USA.

Clearly the most valuable swag was the Omega watch and the rings, which were sized for each athlete on site and in many cases customized with engraving or diamonds - or "upgraded" in Olympic jewelry parlance

The BBC reported that some 400,000 staff and volunteers are being outfitted head to toe in Adidas London 2012 gear. In lieu of payment for volunteers, they receive a schwag bag that includes "two polo shirts, two pairs of trousers, two pairs of socks, one jacket and one pair of trainers". But that's not all. "The kit includes a baseball cap, official Games time bag, water bottle, notepad, umbrella 'just in case it rains' and socks." In addition to Adidas, Swatch is another major sponsor, and each volunteer will wear (and get to keep) a red "Game Maker" Swatch watch.

In 1992 all the Olympians got special edition Ray Ban sunglasses, only actually Olympic competitors could get these glasses. In 1996 there were free coke/PowerAde vending machines; all an Olympian had to do was insert their dog tag coin. A special coin we were all given to get us the free sugary drinks.

Lots of desperate cries for help and attention there, huh?

Good research, Ambrosia. Thanks for the perspective. Now I'd like to ask why this one gift from this one sponsor is being singled out for special attention, by this purveyor of Japan-related news.

Maybe dial back the paranoia a bit taj. There is nothing negative whatsoever about this article. If anything Samsung should thank this media outlet for assisting them with their promotional efforts.

Don't start blaming j-media just because you don't like some of the comments below the article.

taj: Now I'd like to ask why this one gift from this one sponsor is being singled out for special attention, by this purveyor of Japan-related news.

I don't know. This is the technology section and as far as I can tell, each article in the technology section singles out particular products or forms of technology. I see nothing out of character for JT in terms of this article but what are the tea leaves telling you? Is something slippery afoot?

The Note 3 isn't a bad consolation prize. At least it isn't an iPhone. That's just insulting.

Aggressive marketing strategy from Samsung. I think most of Japanese Companies are lacking in International Marketing strategy. That's why Japanese Companies are way behind S. Korean Companies. Also our Japanese Company CEO and presidents are arrogance and they are still living and dreaming in 1970. They need to wake up and steering Company to veer off from old traditional ways of doing business in International. Otherwise, Japanese Company will not survive in next decade.