With less than 100 days to go until Paris 2024, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, officially kicked-off its ‘Open always wins’ campaign – which celebrates the brand’s shared values of openness with the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games –and announced the grand opening of its Olympic rendezvous @ Samsung | Champs-Elysees 125 showcase.

As announced in January, Samsung’s ‘Open always wins’ message articulates the brand’s belief that openness enables new perspectives and infinite possibilities and will serve as the heart of its Paris 2024 programming. The new campaign, which debuted today, brings ‘Open always wins’ to life through the stories of Team Samsung Galaxy skateboarder Aurélien Giraud (France), Para sprinter Johannes Floors (Germany) and breakdancer Sarah Bee (France), and demonstrates how being open enables you to do extraordinary things.

“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,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “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.”

Samsung also unveiled a brand new showcase, Olympic rendezvous @ Samsung | Champs-Elysees 125, which will take Olympic and Paralympic Games fans on an epic journey to Paris 2024 through iconic experiences. They will get to relive the biggest highlights of Games past with Galaxy, and explore Samsung’s latest innovations, and create lifelong memories with Galaxy AI.

In creating this showcase, Samsung collaborated with the visionary Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, whose groundbreaking work mirrors the remarkable spirit of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, constantly pushing boundaries and redefining possibilities. Inspired by Parisian Salons from 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.

“The entire space is designed to celebrate Samsung’s commitment to openness,” said Jean Nouvel. “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.”

The Olympic rendezvous @ Samsung | Champs-Elysees 125 was inaugurated with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by TM Roh, Team Samsung Galaxy ambassadors including French surfer Joanne Defay, UK breakdancer Karam Singh, and French Para-swimmer Ugo Didier; Anne-Sophie Voumard, Television and Marketing Services Managing Director for the IOC, Pierre Rabadan, Deputy Mayor in charge of Sport, Olympic and Paralympic Games for the City of Paris and Étienne Thobois, Director General of the Paris Organizing Committee for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We’re excited to see our shared values celebrated for these ‘Games wide open’ at this Olympic rendezvous @ Samsung,” said Anne-Sophie Voumard, Managing Director, IOC Television and Marketing Services. “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.”

The Olympic rendezvous @ Samsung, located at 125 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, will open its doors to the public on May 3 and run until October 31, from 10:00am-20:00pm Monday-Saturday and 11:00am-20:00pm on Sundays. It will host a series of special events over the course of the summer and will be open to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.

In addition to the showcase located at Champs-Élysées, Samsung will open up additional Olympic rendezvous @ Samsung spaces around the city of lights and its surroundings, including the Olympic Park, the Olympic & Paralympic Village, and the Main Press Centre, as well as Samsung Galaxy Charging Stations at key Olympic and Paralympic Games venues, where visitors will get to experience the latest Galaxy innovations.

Check out Samsung’s “Open always wins” campaign on Samsung Australia’s YouTube channel

The first in the series, “Concrete Dreams”, which spotlights the skateboarding community’s journey to the Olympics, is now live on Samsung’s YouTube Channel and will be screened for fans at the SLS San Diego championship tour event on April 20. The breaking and surfing series will be released on April 25 and May 21 respectively, and premiere at PBT’s Atlanta event and WSL’s event in Tahiti.

Starring sport legends Shaun Tomson, Eric Koston and David “Kid David” Shreibman alongside Olympic athletes Johanne Defay (Surfing, France), Sky Brown (Skateboarding, Great Britain), Grace “Sunny” Choi (Breaking, USA) and many more, the project celebrates the communities that lie at the heart of each sport as they get set to open themselves to the world this summer.

This new project is a key part of Samsung’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 campaign, ‘Open always wins,’ which claims that with an open mind, anything is possible — a motto these communities live by every day. Produced in collaboration with the SLS, PBT and WSL, the docu-series explores the iconic subcultures of each sport, their shared belief in openness and the impact that being part of the Olympic Games has on their communities — past, present and future.

The synopsis of the skateboarding documentary unveiled is as follows:

• Concrete Dreams: From the birth of street skateboarding in the 1980s to its consecration at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, this is the story of a community built on one unspoken rule – Respect. It encourages you to see the world a different way, to go create and always get back up, no matter how often you fall.

• Breaking Boundaries: As breakers get ready for their Olympic Games Paris 2024 debut, this is the story of a global community born from the streets and shooting for the stars. It is a celebration of breaking as an explosion of energy and soul that gives you a sense of expression and belonging and encourages you to do something we’ve never seen before.

• The Next Wave: Surf legends and icons in the making share their story as they embark on their journey to Paris 2024. It is the ultimate love story between them and the ocean as they prepare to take that leap and a celebration of surf as a way of life, passed down to generations, and a culture that’s not only survived but gotten stronger.

“Samsung supports and celebrates with the skateboarding, breaking, and surfing communities as they continue on an incredible journey to the Olympic stage,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re honored to tell their stories and help shine light on these sports communities for wider audiences through this docu-series. We hope they inspire many to push boundaries, support each other and always stay open.”

“We were really excited to partner with Samsung on this docu-series and share our story and our culture with the whole world,” said Tim Greenberg, WSL EVP, Content Strategy and Production. “Surfing is unlike any other sport on the planet. This is such an amazing opportunity to open up our community and celebrate what brings us all together.”

“This is a big year for us and our sport. The future of women surfers is really bright, and the Olympic Games give us that long-term vision,” said Johanne Defay (Surfing, France). “They are a chance for us to really show the world what surfing is all about. Not only our skill on the waves, but what we stand for as a community — committed to giving back to our sport and to our planet — and “The Next Wave” truly honors that.”

“Everyone looks out for each other, that’s the special thing about having this small community,” said John John Florence (Surfing, USA). “It’s exciting to be able to open our community to the world with this documentary.”

“Finding Skateboarding was like falling in love for the first time,” said Rayssa Leal (Skateboarding, Brazil). “I’m so excited to share our story with this documentary and show young girls what skateboarding is all about.”

“Skateboarding is a chance for people to show 100% of themselves and really push their own limits,” said Jagger Eaton (Skateboarding, USA). What if you’re one morning away from making all your dreams come true? You never know how close you are to success. Hope you guys love the documentary as much as I did! I’m stoked to share our journey with you.”

“Skateboarding is all about freedom, you can just pick up your board and go anywhere. It’s like becoming a kid again,” said Aurelien Giraud (Skateboarding, France). “I hope our story inspires you to pick up that skateboard and enjoy the ride.”

“Breaking is special. When I’m dancing, it’s like nothing matters in the world except for me just being me,” said Grace “Sunny” Choi (Breaking, USA). “There’s going to be a lot of great opportunities coming out of the Olympic Games from the added awareness and hopefully also more parents wanting to put their kids into breaking. I hope this documentary makes you as excited as we are to share this culture with the world.”

“This was such an exciting project to be a part of,” said American skateboarding icon and entrepreneur, Eric Koston, who lent his perspective to “Concrete Dreams”. “Our sport has such a deep connection to film. To see these voices come together to celebrate our sport, our journey, and our heritage is huge.”

In addition to the screenings at SLS, PBT and WSL events, the docu-series will go live on Samsung’s YouTube channel. Visit Samsung Australia’s Youtube Channel to watch “Concrete Dreams” and check out the other documentaries.

The new Olympic Edition for Paris 2024 is the first-ever Olympic Edition to feature Galaxy AI. Designed to elevate the athletes’ Games-time experience from the moment they arrive in Paris, it is the first to come pre-loaded with a full suite of exclusive services and useful apps. In addition, it marks the first time Samsung’s newest product is being made available to athletes before its official market launch. The Galaxy Z Flip6 will also take center stage at the Olympic Games as the first Olympic Edition to play an integral role on the podium.

It boasts the new Galaxy Z Flip6’s compact and versatile design, in a striking yellow colorway adorned with the Olympic rings and Paralympic agitos in gold. To dress up the phone, Samsung partnered with the Parisian Men’s Luxury Maison, Berluti, who designed the Team France’s official outfits for the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony, to create an exclusive Flipsuit Case that will accompany each device. Made from Venezia leather, each Flipsuit Case has a unique patina featuring a vibrant color mix inspired by the Olympic rings, celebrating the Olympic spirit and values of excellence and unity.

“Samsung has pushed the boundaries of mobile technology in support of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and its athletes for nearly three decades,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “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.”

Enhancing the Athletes’ Experience at Paris 2024 with Devices Powered by Galaxy AI

Samsung’s decision to provide its latest addition to the Galaxy portfolio to Paris 2024 athletes before its official market launch stems from the crucial role Galaxy AI technology plays in accelerating a new era of communication, productivity, and creativity on a smartphone. The Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition includes a range of useful innovations to help athletes open up new experiences throughout the Games, including the following Galaxy AI communication features that will help athletes from around the world connect with ease while in Paris:

• Live translation of calls^[1] – translates phone calls directly on the device in real-time into 16 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[2] – 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[3] – helps to draft emails and social media posts in apps by using simple keywords. For social media app specifically, it even analyses 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.

Athletes can also use Galaxy AI on the Olympic Edition phone to help prepare for competition, enhance their creativity, and capture lifelong memories at Paris 2024, with features including:

• Instant Slow-mo[4] – allows athletes to record, share and analyse their performances in slow motion, making it easier for them to refine their technique.
• Photo Assist[5] – enables athletes to get the perfect shot every time, by resizing, repositioning or even removing unwanted objects within photos.

Built-in Services and Apps Making the Olympic and Paralympic Experience Fun and Easy

To make it easier for athletes to use the phone while in Paris and beyond, each Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition will come with an eSIM of 100GB 5G data in partnership with Orange, and two years of Samsung’s international warranty. Additionally, to keep track of the latest Games-time schedules and travel around the Olympic venues with ease, several official International Olympic Committee (IOC) apps such as Athlete 365[6], Olympic Shop, Paris 2024, Transport Accred App, and IOC hotline will be pre-loaded. 

Via Samsung Wallet^[7], it also will come pre-loaded with an in-app pass for free beverages in vending machines located throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Village in partnership with fellow Worldwide Partner, The Coca-Cola Company, and an unlimited complimentary public transport access card, in partnership with Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM), so they can enjoy touring the city of Paris and its region.

To bring some fun and personalisation to the athlete experience, each Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition will feature a suite of interactive, Paris 2024-themed apps, as well. These include PinQuest and Galaxy Experience for collecting and exchanging real and digital pins during Games-time, Olympic Go!, the official Olympic Game, and Galaxy Skateboard, a new game featuring the Phryges, the Paris 2024 mascots.

Sharing Moments of Victory from the Podium Firsthand

Standing atop the Olympic and Paralympic podium during the medal ceremony and realising a lifelong dream is one of the most emotional and memorable moments an athlete can experience. Traditionally photographed by accredited media only because athletes have been prohibited from bringing personal belongings — including their mobile phones — to the ceremony, the view has always been captured from a distance and not through an athlete’s own lens.

For the first time in Olympic and Paralympic Games history, Samsung will provide the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition for use on the podium at Paris 2024, so athletes can create their own memories and emotions via a new, victory selfie. Samsung’s customised technology will 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.

The Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition will be displayed at Olympic rendezvous @ Samsung showcases, including the one at Champs-Elysees 125, starting July 12. In collaboration with the IOC and International Paralympic Committee (IPC), athletes will receive their Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition from Samsung starting July 18.

_{[1]Live Translate requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Live Translate is only available on the pre-installed Samsung Phone apps and some third-party apps. Support may vary by region. Certain languages may require language pack download. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.}

_{[2] Interpreter requires Samsung Account login. Certain languages may require language pack download. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Availability and supported features may vary by country, region or carrier. Availability of supported languages may vary.}

_{[3] Composer requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.}

_{[4] Instant Slow-mo feature is available on Samsung Video Player and Samsung Gallery. May not be available on certain video file types. Accuracy of results not guaranteed.}

_{[5] Features for Photo Assist require a network connection and Samsung Account login. Editing with Generative Edit results in a resized photo up to 12MP. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.}

_{[6] Athlete365 is the official Olympic athlete community created to grow the Olympic athlete community and make athletes’ lives better. It offers support to Olympic athletes on their journey to the Olympic Games and after by providing digital and physical spaces in which they can learn, express themselves and connect to the wider athlete community.}

_{[7] Free beverages benefit will be available from 26 July – 8 September 2024 and the complimentary public transport access benefit will be available from 15 July – 15 September 2024}

“Samsung has championed the Olympic spirit — and has been enabling meaningful connection — since its very first Olympic Games in 1988,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “For Paris 2024, Samsung’s latest innovation and technology will support the staging of the Games and will help deliver on its promise to be the most open Games ever. The brand’s ‘Open always wins’ message reflects this alignment of values and will be featured throughout Samsung’s Paris 2024 programming.”

Team Samsung Galaxy will serve as the primary voices for ‘Open always wins,’ and by sharing their journeys, they will demonstrate how Samsung is helping athletes and fans open up to new opportunities through its technologies. Each athlete on Team Samsung Galaxy, which includes British skateboarding star and longstanding brand ambassador Sky Brown, knows firsthand that an open mindset drives you to victory, in sport and beyond.

“Samsung has been elevating the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience — and supporting athletes — for nearly four decades,” said Tony Estanguet, president of Paris 2024. “As we look to create a ‘Games Wide Open,’ we are confident that Samsung’s deep-rooted belief in openness, and its innovative mobile technology, will play a central role at Paris 2024. Together, we will proudly engage, inspire, and enhance the Olympic and Paralympic Games for athletes and fans alike.”

Team Samsung Galaxy for Paris 2024

For Paris 2024, Team Samsung Galaxy is made up of over 25 Olympians and Paralympians — including British skateboarder Sky Brown, Spanish badminton champion Carolina Marin, French skateboarding hero Aurélien Giraud, American B-girl[1] Grace “Sunny” Choi, German Para sprinter Johannes Floors, and South Korean football icon Son Heung-min — with more to be named. It features several athletes from some of the Games’ newest sports — skateboarding, surfing, and breaking — which, like Samsung, share core values of open-mindedness and self-expression.

“We are proud to support this incredible team of athletes and welcome them to the Samsung family,” added Stephanie Choi. “Not only are they inspiring humans on and off the field of play, but they’re also making an impact on their communities and on the next generation. Together with Team Samsung Galaxy, we are thrilled to encourage fans around the world to open up to new possibilities in their everyday lives.”

The team also includes 15-year-old skateboarder Rayssa Leal, who became the youngest Brazilian ever to participate in the Olympic Games when she won silver at Tokyo 2020; Kim Ye-ri, the “limitless” South Korean B-girl who overcame a hearing impairment to rise to the top of her sport; Jagger Eaton (U.S.), who champions skateboarding’s culture of open-mindedness; surfers Johanne Defay (France), John John Florence (U.S.) and Jack Robinson (Australia), who are not only fierce competitors on the waves, but also fierce ocean and climate advocates; and Paralympians Madison de Rozario (Australia) and Ugo Didier (France) who use their platforms to drive accessibility and inclusivity in sport and society.

Madison de Rozario: “Samsung’s been a part of the Paralympics for so long, and one of the highest privileges of being a Paralympian is getting to partner with a brand that feels so strongly about the Paralympic movement. Tech is playing an enormous role right now, particularly in Paralympic and women’s sports. Being able to engage with fans directly has progressed the movement far quicker than anything else.”

Jack Robinson: “I’m most excited about the new opportunity of being part of this family of athletes and inspiring each other. Sport brings us all together and that’s what brings the best out of people, so I’m looking forward to going to the Games.”

More information on how ‘Open always wins’ will come to life, the many ways Samsung will enhance the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience at Paris 2024, and the additional athletes of Team Samsung Galaxy, will be announced as the Road to the Games continues. Team Samsung Galaxy’s full roster has been included below.

[1] ‘B-girl’ refers to a female breakdancer.