Samsung gifts Olympians and Paralympics special Flip6

Z Flip6, Olympic edition

The Olympic community is an elite one, and all of these athletes will be given a pretty cool gift.

All participants competing in the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris will be receiving a special, custom-built Galaxy Z Flip6 smartphone starting July 18, in collaboration with the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees (IOC and IPC).

In making the announcement,  Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics shares, "Samsung has pushed the boundaries of mobile technology in support of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and its athletes for nearly three decades. We are honored to deliver our newest Galaxy innovation to the inspiring athletes of Paris 2024 – and give them the opportunity to experience the powerful and intelligent Galaxy Z Flip6 firsthand, even before its official market launch. We are excited to see how our technology opens up athletes’ Games-time experience like never before — from creating meaningful connections, to sharing and capturing lifelong memories while in Paris and beyond."

Recently launched in Paris, the Olympic Edition of the Galaxy Z Flip6 is a continuation of Samsung's partnership with the Olympic programme in providing cutting-edge technology and mobile innovation across the Games, having been a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner since 1988. The athletes will be the first-ever users of this smartphone, as general availability will only take place starting July 24.

For the special Olympic Edition, the Galaxy Z Flip6 comes in a striking yellow colorway adorned with the Olympic rings and the Paralympic agitos in gold. The device comes with an exclusive Flipsuit Case, designed by Parisian Men's Luxury Maison, Berluti, who also designed host France's Opening Ceremony outfits. The Flipsuit Case is made from Venezia leather, with a unique patina featuring a vibrant color mix inspired by the Olympic rings, celebrating the Olympic spirit and values of excellence and unity.

The device comes pre-loaded with a full suite of exclusive services and useful apps, and is the first Olympic Edition featuring Galaxy AI, whose latest technological innovations will help shape the athletes' experiences whilst at the French capital.

From a communication perspective:

• Live translation of calls  - translates phone calls directly on the device in real-time into sixteen different languages, making it easy for athletes to call the Olympic hotlines and local contacts in their native language, using Samsung native and select third-party apps.

• Interpreter  - instantly translates live conversations, allowing athletes to chat with other athletes and volunteers and receive a live translation of what they’re saying on screen – while still speaking face-to-face, thanks to the phone’s unique dual screen.

• Composer  - helps to draft emails and social media posts in apps by using simple keywords. For social media app specifically, it even analyzes the tone of past content, making it easier for athletes to express their excitement at some of the competition’s most thrilling or poignant moments. 

As for a competition / creative perspective, the Galaxy AI technology ain't no slouch as well:

• Instant Slow-mo  - allows athletes to record, share and analyze their performances in slow motion, making it easier for them to refine their technique. 

• Photo Assist  - enables athletes to get the perfect shot every time, by resizing, repositioning or even removing unwanted objects within photos.

Bundled onto the Z Flip6 is an Orange eSIM with 100GB 5G data. as well as two years of Samsung's international warranty. Also, official apps of the International Olympic Committee, such as Athlete 365, Olympic Shop, Paris 2024, Transport Accred App, and IOC hotline are pre-loaded to make it perfectly suitable for use in an out of the Games.

In partnership with fellow Worldwide Olympic Partner The Coca-Cola Co., an in-app pass via Samsung Wallet will allow the athletes to be able to avail of free beverages in vending machines located throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Village. It also will have an unlimited complimentary public transport access card, in partnership with Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), which is perfect for going around Paris and the surrounding region.

In addition, Galaxy Z Flip6 will have a suite of interactive, Paris 2024-themed apps. The time-honored tradition of collecting and exchanging pins during the Games will now go digital as well, through PinQuest and Galaxy experience. Adding some fun is Olympic Go!, which is the official Olympic Game, and Galaxy Skateboard, which features the Phyrges, the Paris 2024 mascots.

The Galaxy Z Flip6 will also make history in the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics by being the first device that can be used at the podium during the medal ceremony. Traditionally, athletes have been prohibited from bringing their personal belongings to said ceremony, including mobile phones. As such, athletes are unable to record a potential core memory. That will now change, as medalists will have a chance to channel their emotions through a new, victory selfie. Thanks to Samsung's technology, it will then map and sort the athletes’ selfies by sport and upload them to Athlete365 in real-time, which will allow athletes to save and share their iconic moments with family and fans.

Fans in Paris will be able to check out the special Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition at the Olympic™ rendezvous @ Samsung showcases, including the one at Champs-Elysees 125, starting July 12.

Samsung readies Olympics and Paralympics campaign for Paris 2024

c/o Samsung

With the Paris Olympics less than a hundred days left, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, ramped up its efforts for the Games by launching its campaign and held its grand opening for its Olympic™️ rendezvous @ Samsung | Champs-Elysees 125 showcase.

Called "Open always wins," it highlights the belief that openness enables new perspectives and infinite possibilities, something that both the Olympics and Paralympics share.

Samsung Electronics President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business TM Roh says, "As a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, Samsung has been driving innovation and delivering cutting-edge technology and experiences at the Games for nearly 40 years. The way we enjoy the Games has evolved dramatically over time, with technology playing a critical role in bringing the Olympic spirit to life. This is even more true as we embark on a ‘Games wide open,’ and we are excited to bring Olympic fans and athletes closer than ever by opening up new experiences and meaningful connections at Paris 2024 with our ‘Open always wins’ campaign."

The campaign will include stories from its Team Samsung Galaxy sporting ambassadors, with skateboarder Aurélien Giraud and breakdancer Sarah Bee of France and para-sprinter Johannes Floors of Germany demonstrates how being open enables you to do extraordinary things, as seen here.

Also to coincide with the launch, Samsung also unveiled a brand new physical showcase in Paris. Called Olympic™️ rendezvous @ Samsung | Champs-Elysees 125, it will take fans across an epic journey to Paris 2024 through iconic experiences, with the chance to relive the biggest highlights of previous Games with Galaxy, as well as explore the latest innovations from Samsung, which includes Galaxy AI.

The exhibit was preceded by a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included Roh, Team Samsung Galaxy ambassadors Joanne Defay (surfing, France), Karam Singh (breakdancing, Great Britain), and Ugo Didier (para-swimming, France), International Olympic Committee Managing Director for Television and Marketing Services Anne-Sophie Voumard, Paris Deputy Mayor for Sport, Olympic and Paralympic Games Pierre Rabadan, Paris 2024 Organizing Committee Director General Étienne Thobois.

Samsung collaborated with Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel for this project. Taking inspiration from Parisian salons during the Age of Enlightenment, the space is designed to celebrate openness to new perspectives and possibilities through reflections and optical illusions that evoke feeling of openness, harmony and connection.

According to Nouvel, "The entire space is designed to celebrate Samsung’s commitment to openness. The abstract graphic façade captures the reflections of movements and lights that appear and disappear in an instant, while the matte, reflective white mirrors in the lobby invite discovery of latest innovations."

Voumard adds, "We’re excited to see our shared values celebrated for these ‘Games wide open’ at this Olympic™️ rendezvous @ Samsung. Samsung has played a huge part in elevating the Olympic Games’ fan experience through their innovative technology over the decades, and we’re impressed to see them take it to the next level with this showcase as well as through many ways they will support staging of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games here in Paris."

Located at 125 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the activation is set to be open to the public starting May 3, and will last until October 31. Operating hours is 10am-8pm on Mondays to Saturdays, and 11am-8pm on Sundays. It will serve a venue for a series of special events in the run-up to the Games.

Expect similar such spaces to be opened across the city and its surroundings, including Olympic Park, the Olympic and Paralympic Village, and the Main Press Centre. There will also be a showcase for the latest Galaxy innovations and charging stations at key Olympic and Paralympic venues.

International Paralympic Committee head to grace ASEAN Para Sports Federation meeting

The Paralympic Movement in the Philippines gets a timely boost as current International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Andrew Parsons is set to arrive in the country.

Among the things Parsons is set to do during his visit here is amplify the vision of the movement, which is to enable para athletes to achieve sporting excellence, while also inspiring and exciting the world. Leading the charge to do that in the Philippines is the Philippines Paralympic Committee under the auspices of its president, Michael Barredo.

Parsons is also set to observe the meeting of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) on June 8-9 at the Bonifacio Global City, which will be attended by the National Paralympic Committee heads of all 11 member nations of the region.

The meeting is a continuation of the preparations the Philippines is conducting in the runup to the 10th ASEAN Para Games (APG), which will take place in January 2020, weeks after the conclusion of the 30th Southeast Asian Games that the country is also hosting.

Among the items on the meeting's agenda is the composition of events for said competition. The last iteration of the APG had sixteen sports: Boccia, Chess, Cerebral Palsy Football, Football five-a-side, Goalball, Para Archery, Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Cycling, Para Powerlifting, Para Swimming, Para Table Tennis, Sitting Volleyball, Tenpin Bowling, Wheelchair Basketball, and Wheelchair Tennis.

Preparations for the 10th ASEAN Para Games that will be hosted by the Philippines in January 2020 goes full swing this June with the meeting of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) that will be attended by Heads of National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from the 11 member countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Timor Leste and the Philippines.

The APG is the top paralympic event in the region, held every other year and traditionally hosted by the nation set to host the SEAG. This is the second time the Philippines has hosted the tourney, after 2005. Its participants are composed of athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities. The APSF regulates the tournament, with assistance from both the IPC and the Asian Paralympic Committee if deemed as necessary.

According to Barredo, Parsons' presence basically puts into motion the preparations for the APG, with ASEAN Para Games Organizing Committee Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano noting that the games will be held in three separates hubs like their SEAG counterparts: Metro Manila, Clark, and Subic. An international sports complex is already being constructed in Clark, with a twenty-thousand seat stadium and an aquatic center also in the works.