As part of the Samsung Paralympic Blogger program, 30 Paralympians from countries including Brazil, United States of America, Korea, Great Britain, France, Spain, China as well as an athlete from the Independent Paralympic Athletes team received Samsung Galaxy S7 phones and other mobile accessories to capture exclusive, behind-the-scenes 360 blogs that allows them to share their experiences with the world. Through their daily posts, fans will get a firsthand glimpse at Paralympic Games moments that can’t be seen at home, as athletes will share exclusive content captured during training sessions, competition preparation, Opening Ceremony and more.

The Samsung Paralympic Blogger program is an extension of the project which began during the London 2012 Paralympic Games and continued through the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, which was the first time that athletes created vlogs from a major sporting event. The program helps establish a heritage of commitment to Paralympians, while challenging the world to focus on athletes’ ability and engage with their personal stories. This program is part of Samsung’s overall Rio 2016 Paralympic Games campaign which celebrates how meaningful progress comes from daring to defy barriers and seeing ability over disability.

Key highlights from this week include:

Tatyana McFadden (Athletics, USA) shares Team USA preparations for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.

“Team USA is leaving for the Opening Ceremony! So exciting”

Gustavo Fernandez (Wheelchair Tennis, Argentina) at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.

“I have all the family watching me here. After so many years it was so worth it. It’s worth it. It’s very exciting!”

Janet McLachlan (Wheelchair Basketball, Canada) at Team Canada Paralympic Village Welcome Ceremony and Flag Raising Ceremony.

“Today is Canada’s Welcome Ceremony, and it’s something quite especial, especially for those from our team who will be unable to attend the Opening Ceremony”

Teresa Perales (Swimming, Spain) training session with her teammates at the Aquatics Center.

“We have lots and lots of energy and are enjoy the water very much! I hope to see you guys in the next video. We’ll be doing a bit of trouble making. See ya!”

You can watch more videos and follow your favorite athletes by visiting www.youtube.com/Paralympics. For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Paralympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

The full list of athletes taking part in the Samsung Paralympic Bloggers project includes:

Abdi Jama (Wheelchair basketball, Great Britain)

Alvaro Valera (Table tennis, Spain)

Amalia Perez (Powerlifting, Mexico)

Andre Brasil (Swimming, Brazil)

Arnaud Assoumani (Athletics, France)

Carlos Serrano (Swimming, Colombia)

Chuck Aoki (Wheelchair rugby, USA)

Cuiping Zhang (Shooting, China)

Darwin Castro (Athletics, Ecuador)

David Smith (Boccia, Great Britain)

Fabien Lamirault (Table tennis, France)

Gustavo Fernandez (Wheelchair tennis, Argentina)

Gustavo Sanchez (Swimming, Mexico)

Hannah McFadden (Athletics, USA)

Hwa Sook Lee (Archery, South Korea)

Ibrahim Al-Hussein (Swimming, Independent Paralympic Athletes)

Janet McLachlan (Wheelchair basketball, Canada)

Jinho Park (Shooting, South Korea)

Katie Holloway (Sitting volleyball, USA)

Leinier Savon Pineda (Athletics, Cuba)

Liu Jing (Table tennis, China)

Marie-Amelie Le Fur (Athletics, France)

Michael Jeremiasz (Wheelchair tennis, France)

Natalia Mayara (Wheelchair tennis, Brazil)

Petrucio Ferreira (Athletics, Brazil)

Tatyana McFadden (Athletics, USA)

Teresa Perales (Swimming, Spain)

Terezinha Guilhermina (Athletics, Brazil)

Ye Ruyi (Wheelchair Fencing, China)

Yohansson Nascimento (Athletics, Brazil)

Samsung Electronics, Worldwide Partner of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, today announced its global Rio 2016 Paralympic Games campaign – a continuation of the brand’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games program – which celebrates how meaningful progress comes from daring to defy barriers. The campaign kicks off with the announcement of several on-the-ground activations including the transformation of Samsung Galaxy Studios in Rio, the Samsung Paralympic Blogger program, official application and the Whang Youn Dai Award.

“The Paralympic Games are a global movement that inspire and celebrate the spirit of progress and the human challenge,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung strives to create breakthrough mobile technologies that help make the digital world more accessible for those with disabilities. We hope our Rio 2016 Paralympic Games campaign will help spark a global conversation around seeing ability over disability and enable everyone to participate in the Paralympic movement.”

Accessible Experiences at Samsung Galaxy Studios

In the lead-up to the Paralympic Games, Samsung has revamped its Galaxy Studios in Rio, including its flagship studio in Olympic Park, including several accessibility features, ensuring all consumers, athletes and fans are able to take part in a variety of interactive experiences. Wheelchair accessible ramps and lifts enable visitors to reach the Gear VR 4D Experience Zone, where they will experience exhilarating Olympic Sports, roller coaster rides and kayaking through water rapids via Samsung Gear VR paired with Galaxy mobile devices.

Samsung also offers unique, hands-on opportunities for visitors to experience how Samsung Accessibility technology features are designed and utilized to help those with disabilities. Galaxy Accessibility Experience Programs will include:

• “Blind Game” – Visitors will learn how voice assistance works by utilizing the feature to play 30-second maze games on Galaxy mobile phones
• “Sound Detector” – Through the “Sound Detector” feature on Galaxy mobile devices, visitors will learn how people with hearing disabilities use the sound detector feature to sense the status of audible surroundings, such as a bell ringing or a baby crying.
• “Color Adjust” – The graphic interface feature will showcase how “Samsung Color Adjust” can help people with color vision deficiency to see vibrant colors. Users will see a series of images on Galaxy mobile devices as someone with color deficiency would see, and will then will be able to compare how a world with colors changes the images as they are then displayed with the adjusted colors
• “Review Your Moment” – The “Review Your Moment” experience is a demonstration of the “Samsung Dexterity Feature.” Visitors will learn how those who have difficulties utilizing mobile touch screens with their hands can operate smartphones with head gestures or third party hardware switches. Fans will use a selfie application feature and collect their printed photo following the experience.

Get Behind the Scenes through the Samsung Paralympic Blogger Program

Samsung will once again partner with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to provide 30 Paralympians from countries including Brazil, United States of America, Korea, Great Britain, France, Spain, China as well as an athlete from the Independent Paralympic Athletes team the opportunity to capture and share their Rio 2016 Paralympic Games experiences with the world. As part of the Samsung Paralympic Blogger team, each of the 30 athletes will receive a Samsung Galaxy S7 and other mobile accessories to create exclusive, behind-the-scenes 360 vlogs, which will be uploaded on various digital platforms including the IPC’s YouTube channel, Samsung channels and the athletes’ social media accounts. Content will allow fans to get a firsthand glimpse of how these Paralympians are defying barriers and showcasing their tremendous athletic abilities on the world stage.

Athletes in the Paralympic Village will also be able to experience the Samsung Paralympic Bloggers in 360 by visiting a special station and viewing the content through Gear VR headsets paired with Samsung mobile phones. The stations will also contain other 360 content from key landmarks in Rio, allowing athletes to see the sites without leaving the Paralympic Village.

“We are thrilled to once again work with Samsung to share the excitement and inspiration of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with the world through the eyes of the Samsung Paralympic Blogger team,” said IPC President, Sir Philip Craven. “As a longstanding Worldwide Paralympic Partner, Samsung continues to bring meaningful technology to the Paralympic Movement that helps both athletes and fans connect with the Paralympic Games.”

The Rio 2016 App: Enhancing the Paralympic Games through Innovative Technology

The official application of Rio 2016, “The Rio 2016 App”, developed by Samsung in collaboration with the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, provides athletes, fans and consumers with 24/7 updates on all of the latest Paralympic news. The app, which received more than 6 million downloads during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games period, has been updated to provide the official Paralympic Games schedule, venue and event information, results, medal counts, more real-time updates and information of Samsung’s marketing activities during the Paralympic Games.

The Rio 2016 Official Application is available for free download through the Samsung Galaxy Apps, Google Play for Android, App Store for iOS, and selected App Store in China as well as the Windows App Store.

Samsung Supports Athletes Defying Barriers through Whang Youn Dai Award

To further support athletes who are defying barriers, Samsung will once again sponsor the Whang Youn Dai Award, which was established by the IPC to recognize Paralympians who have overcome adversities through sports and inspire and excite the world through the spirit of the Paralympic Games. During the Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony, a Samsung representative will present the award to one male and one female winner as part of a victory medal ceremony.

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Paralympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

The list of athletes taking part in the Samsung Paralympic Bloggers project includes:

Abdi Jama (Wheelchair basketball, Great Britain)

Alvaro Valera (Table tennis, Spain)

Amalia Perez (Powerlifting, Mexico)

Andre Brasil (Swimming, Brazil)

Arnaud Assoumani (Athletics, France)

Carlos Serrano (Swimming, Colombia)

Chuck Aoki (Wheelchair rugby, USA)

Cuiping Zhang (Shooting, China)

Darwin Castro (Athletics, Ecuador)

David Smith (Boccia, Great Britain)

Fabien Lamirault (Table tennis, France)

Gustavo Fernandez (Wheelchair tennis, Argentina)

Gustavo Sanchez (Swimming, Mexico)

Hannah McFadden (Athletics, USA)

Hwa Sook Lee (Archery, South Korea)

Ibrahim Al-Hussein (Swimming, Independent Paralympic Athletes)

Janet McLachlan (Wheelchair basketball, Canada)

Jinho Park (Shooting, South Korea)

Katie Holloway (Sitting volleyball, USA)

Leinier Savon Pineda (Athletics, Cuba)

Liu Jing (Table tennis, China)

Marie-Amelie Le Fur (Athletics, France)

Michael Jeremiasz (Wheelchair tennis, France)

Natalia Mayara (Wheelchair tennis, Brazil)

Petrucio Ferreira (Athletics, Brazil)

Tatyana McFadden (Athletics, USA)

Teresa Perales (Swimming, Spain)

Terezinha Guilhermina (Athletics, Brazil)

Ye Ruyi (Wheelchair Fencing, China)

Yohansson Nascimento (Athletics, Brazil)

Samsung Electronics, Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, saw connectivity and digital interactions taken to the next level for athletes and fans during Rio 2016 Olympic Games. With Samsung Galaxy Studios spread throughout the Olympic Games footprint and beyond in Brazil, athletes and fans were able to demo the most advanced mobile technologies and stay connected with friends and family back home. Samsung today announced numerous metrics that proved Rio 2016 was one of the most connected Olympic Games in history.

Standing out was Samsung’s #DoWhatYouCant campaign, which achieved more than 1.6 billion social impressions and engaged almost 121 million fans. Based on the philosophy that the Olympic Games has never only been about sports, #DoWhatYouCant celebrates those who defy barriers to do the extraordinary, inside and outside of sports. Through its heralded documentary “A Fighting Chance,” along with advertisements and content like “The Chant” and “The Anthem,” the campaign tells the stories of those who push the limits to overcome obstacles, helping fans across the globe connect with what it means to “Do What You Can’t.”

Samsung reached many other milestones at Rio 2016, helping the brand achieve top marks. By the numbers, Samsung’s milestones included:

• 8,447 calls made from Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Village via Samsung’s free call service for athletes; 42,236 minutes
• 6,035,434 downloads of official “Rio 2016 App”, developed by Samsung in collaboration with the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee
• 58,783 mentions of Samsung’s Rio 2016 #DoWhatYouCant
• 125,359,837 total campaign engagements
• 1,647,594,349 impressions via #DoWhatYouCant
• 330,350 fans who enjoyed VR experience through Samsung Galaxy smartphones at the Galaxy Studios throughout Brazil
• 1,040,860 visitors to 13 Olympic Games-themed Samsung Galaxy Studios throughout Brazil

Samsung’s free call service at its Galaxy Studio in the Olympic Village proved to be a hit for athletes, helping them connect with their families back home as they prepared for competition. VR experiences were also immensely popular for both athletes and fans – with many of Samsung’s 13 Olympic Games-themed Galaxy Studios throughout Brazil offering SporTV’s VR livestream of events for thousands of fans.

To help make this Olympic Games more connected than ever, Samsung – in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – presented 12,500 Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition mobile phones to athletes competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The commemorative smartphones were meant to help Olympians enhance their experiences in Rio and communicate with friends and family around the world more conveniently.

And with the help of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, Samsung also developed the official application of Rio 2016, “The Rio 2016 App,” that provides athletes, fans and consumers 24/7 updates on all of the latest Olympic Games news. And to have a home base for all of the digital interactions at the Olympic Games, Samsung last week opened its main Samsung Galaxy Studio Olympic Park right in the heart of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where fans and consumers can demo Samsung’s latest wireless communications products and immersive technologies.

“As a continuous contribution to the Olympic Games, Samsung creates immersive programs that unite the world through our mobile technology helping fans across the globe have access and enjoy,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “Rio 2016 has proven to be a digitally connected Olympic Games. We are delighted to see the great connections of the athletes and fans, which we look forward to continuing into the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.”

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Olympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

Among the visitors include Tsepo Mathibelle, a marathon runner from Lesotho; US track and field athlete Brenda Martinez; and Irish gymnast Kieran Behan.

The athletes not only got a chance to greet their fans, but also had the opportunity to try out numerous virtual reality experiences with Samsung’s Gear VR and get hands on with the Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition.

Like Samsung, these athletes in particular have overcome barriers to achieve greatness and to realize their own personal dreams and goals.

Check out the photos below to see the highlights of their visit.

Lesotho marathon runner Tsepo Mathibelle takes a selfie with his Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Samsung presented 12,500 Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition smartphones to athletes competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Inside the Social Galaxy room, Irish gymnast Kieran Behan watches his past Instagram moments come to life in 360 degrees. “The technology here in the Samsung Galaxy Studio is absolutely amazing,” said Behan, the second Irish gymnast to qualify for the Olympic Games.

“I’m most excited about my Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition—it’s such a cool commemorative phone from Samsung,” US track and field athlete Brenda Martinez stated during her visit to the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Village.

Tsepo Mathibelle is all smiles as he experiences simulated Olympic kayaking through 4D motion virtual reality via Samsung’s Gear VR and Galaxy smartphone. Mathibelle overcame numerous barriers on his way to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. His story was told in the recent documentary short “A Fighting Chance.”

Inside the Social Galaxy room at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park, Brenda Martinez watches her Instagram moments come alive all around her.

Kieran Behan, who defied numerous barriers on his journey to the Olympic Games—including a tumor in his leg at age 10 and a brain injury from a gymnastics fall shortly after—receives a gift of Samsung-themed Rio 2016 Olympic Games pins at the Samsung Galaxy Studio.

Brenda Martinez experiences the high-speed thrill of a roller coaster through a 4D virtual reality film at the Samsung Galaxy Studio during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Martinez overcame a setback in the 800 meters at the US track and field team trials by qualifying for Rio 2016 just days later in the 1,500 meters.

Inside the Social Galaxy Room, Tsepo Mathibelle sees Instagram moments come to life in 360 degrees. He noted, “I feel a connection to Samsung, as the company is all about defying barriers, which is similar to my story, as I’ve had to overcome so many obstacles to get here today.”

Kieran Behan tests out his Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition at Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park. “It truly is a collector’s item,” he said of the smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy Studio, which opened this week in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games, was specifically designed to help fans embrace the excitement of the Olympic Games and celebrate the Olympic spirit, enabling them to create, capture and share their own experiences. At the Galaxy Studio fans can demo immersive technologies such as a new Samsung 4D VR kayaking experience that simulates the exhilarating Olympic event; an interactive Galaxy S7-guided tour in which visitors can experience the Galaxy ecosystem throughout the studio; and have the opportunity to collect exclusive Rio 2016-themed pins, among many other experiences.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (left) presents an Olympic Torch to DongJin Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics, at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, August 6 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach visits the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, August 6 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Olympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Olympic Games

Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications platform, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile devices. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time, user location-based information service, interactive communications, and Samsung Pay. Samsung hosts various Olympic campaigns to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its innovative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020.

The Galaxy Studio located within the Olympic Park was specifically designed to help fans embrace the excitement of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and celebrate the Olympic spirit, enabling them to create, capture and share their own experiences. To complement the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the Olympic Park, two additional Galaxy Studios will be stationed in the Olympic Village and Main Press Centre (MPC); as well as several Galaxy Studios throughout local cities in Brazil to help expand the Olympic spirit to a wider audience.

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Olympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

Samsung Electronics, Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, hosted the opening ceremony of the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (From left) Chief Commercial Officer of the Rio 2016 Committee, Renato Ciuchini; Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, Timo Lumme; Olympic mascot Vinicius; President of Samsung Electronics Latin America, Jeonghwan Kim; and Vice President of the Mobile Division of Samsung Brazil, Changhoon Yoon.

Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, sit in a 4D motion chair to experience the extreme 4D kayaking VR at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during its opening ceremony.

Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, experiences the Social Galaxy zone at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during its opening ceremony.

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Olympic Games

Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications platform, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile devices. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time, user location-based information service, interactive communications, and Samsung Pay. Samsung hosts various Olympic campaigns to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its innovative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020.

Olympians from the Brazilian women’s water polo team receive their Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the Rio 2016 Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison snaps a selfie on her new Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition, the official Olympic Games phone, during a visit to the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the Rio 2016 Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Team Great Britain synchronized divers Alicia Blagg and Rebecca Gallantree receive their Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the Rio 2016 Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

South Korea fencers Gu Bon-Gil, left, and Shin A-Lam receive their Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the Rio 2016 Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Olympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

Samsung Electronics, Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, announced that the Rio 2016 Official Application is available to download starting today.

The Rio 2016 app which is created by collaboration with the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee will provide a range of features to help user better enjoy this year’s Olympic Games, including the Olympic Games schedule, venue and event information, results, medal counts, and more real-time updates across all Olympic and Paralympic sport.

The Rio 2016 app gives users access to information about all the competitions at the Games, along with up-to-the-minute updates. You can also check out Olympic and world records, plus specific details about all the sports, athletes, teams and venues at the Games, and the official news from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Not only can the Rio 2016 app provide users with all the Olympic Games information that users need, but it is also highly customizable, so users can focus on what matters most to them. User can choose to get results and push-notification alerts based on their favorite countries, sports or athletes, as well as the start time of events, results and medals.

In addition, the app has a “Samsung Zone” that provides information about Samsung’s activities at the Games, as well as the Galaxy X Olympics, customer service and an introduction to the Samsung Members App.

This is the tenth consecutive edition of Olympic Games that Samsung has been an official partner, using its technologies and innovations to help officials, athletes and fans. And Samsung is committed to continuing to share the Olympic spirit to make a better future.

The app is now available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

You can download the Rio 2016 Official Application at Galaxy Apps (Mobile), Google Play Store, Apple App Store and the Windows App Store.

* This sample form is intended to be used for reference only.

“The Anthem” opens with a young girl from Australia singing a line of the Botswana national anthem into a Samsung Galaxy S7edge. Throughout the ad, the Samsung Galaxy smartphone travels to all corners of the world, capturing and sharing the voices of fans and athletes around the globe as they sing lines from other national anthems. Each line follows seamlessly to form a brand new anthem, giving viewers a glimpse of how Samsung innovative mobile products and technologies can help to break down geographic barriers and unite the world through deep, borderless connections.

“‘The Anthem’ is a reflection of the Samsung brand and our continuous pursuit to break down geographic barriers and unite the world through technology and borderless communication,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “By singing one anthem, fans and athletes across the globe can feel a shared sense of pride and unity and together celebrate collective progress, which is integral to the spirit of the Olympic Games.”

Six global athletes are featured within the ad, each of whom has a unique story of defying barriers and pushing through constraints to make meaningful progress and achieve his or her goals. The athletes include:

• Tom Daley (Great Britain, Diving) – London 2012 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist, 10m Platform
• Alysia Montano (United States of America, Track & Field) – London 2012 Olympic Games, 5^th place, 800m
• Arnaud Assoumani (France, Paralympic Games Athletics) – London 2012 Paralympic Games 2x Silver Medalist, Triple Jump F46 and Long Jump F46, Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Gold Medalist, Long Jump F46, Athens 2004 Paralympic Games Bronze Medalist, Long Jump f46
• Margret Rumat Rumat Hassan (South Sudan, Track & Field)
• Shelley Watts (Australia, Boxing)
• Gabriel Medina (Brazil, Surfing) – 2014 WSL World Champion

These athletes will also be featured in a variety of digital and social content, leading up to and throughout Rio 2016 which will tell their stories of defying barriers and overcoming obstacles, helping fans across the globe connect with what it means to “Do What You Can’t.”

“The Anthem” is a continuation of Samsung’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games global campaign centered on athletes who persevere and never giving up for the sake of making meaningful progress. Earlier this year, Samsung began the campaign with the short documentary film, “A Fighting Chance” to showcase the inspiring story of four Olympic hopefuls from diverse countries who are fighting constraints and pushing the limits to help their countries make history. Samsung followed with “The Chant,” which celebrates personal progress made by athletes and fans through devices like the Galaxy S7 edge and Gear IconX that help them to defy distance and stay connected.

Athletes on “The Anthem” and What It Means to “Do What You Can’t”

Tom Daley

“I’m thrilled to be among the talented and strong-minded athletes featured in Samsung’s ‘The Anthem,’ and to share my personal story of defying barriers with the world leading up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. I’ve overcome several obstacles throughout my athletic career, but I’m thankful for these challenges because they have made me stronger and even more determined to succeed. I hope my story inspires fans around the world to confidently conquer their own challenges.”

Arnaud Assoumani

“When I was 5 years old, I saw athletes on television running and flying into the air and I wanted to feel what it was like to jump and to fly. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be involved in sports. Today, my dreams are still in sport – I love how it has in incredible power of bringing people of all different backgrounds, cultures and languages together. Being a part of Samsung’s ‘The  Anthem’ is a great way for me to show that we’re all sharing the same values and we can mix different cultures and languages and still understand each other.”

Margret Rumat Rumat Hassan

“I participated in the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games as an Independent Olympic Athlete, but in Rio, they will raise the South Sudan flag for the first time and it will be a defining moment for me and my country. To be a part of this group of athletes that Samsung is recognizing shows how much progress has been made for sports in South Sudan. I pushed through many barriers, including civil unrest and lack of training facilities, to be selected to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It’s a big accomplishment, and I will to continue to push limits to make progress.”

Gabriel Medina

“My mom and dad gave me my first surfboard when I was 8 and I loved it – but it was a challenge for me as a surfer in Brazil, because people didn’t really know about the sport and it wasn’t considered professional. I continued to train hard and after I won my world title in 2014, it became a professional sport in the country. Hearing my national anthem on the podium in 2014, and every time I hear it, I get emotional and I feel proud. I think this happens in every country for every athlete – it’s inspiring. Samsung’s ‘The Anthem’ is amazing because it’s a song that can unite and inspire the whole world.”

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Olympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Olympic Games

Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications platform, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile devices. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time, user location-based information service, interactive communications, and Samsung Pay. Samsung hosts various Olympic campaigns to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its innovative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020.

NBC Olympics announced today that it will provide Virtual Reality (VR) coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games exclusively to authenticated users of compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphones together with Samsung Gear VR via the NBC Sports app, marking the first time Olympics programming will be available in VR.

The 85 hours of VR programming, which will be captured by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and supplied to NBC Olympics, will include the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, men’s basketball — including the semifinals and final — gymnastics, track and field, beach volleyball, diving, boxing, and fencing, as well as highlight packages of those sports.

All VR programming will be presented on delay, from August 6, the day after the Opening Ceremony, through August 22, the day after the Games conclude. Only Samsung Galaxy smartphones compatible with Gear VR will be able to access the VR content section of the NBC Sports app. Samsung customers can view the VR content via TV Everywhere on the NBC Sports app after authenticating through their pay TV provider.

“The world’s greatest sporting event is always a showcase for cutting edge technology, and we’re thrilled to partner with Samsung and OBS to bring our viewers even closer to compelling Olympic action with virtual reality,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “Olympic fans can be transported to iconic venues such as Maracana Stadium for an unprecedented view of the Opening Ceremony, and Copacabana Beach for an immersive beach volleyball experience in the sport’s ultimate setting.”

“Fans of the Olympics will now get to experience the world’s best athletes as they compete in some of the most popular events of Rio 2016 in a whole new way: through virtual reality,” said Marc Mathieu, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics America. “We are thrilled to work with NBC and OBS on this first-of-its-kind endeavor, connecting fans right to the action in Rio, powered by 360-degree storytelling, virtual reality and our Galaxy phones.”

“VR technology carries incredible potential for the sport broadcast industry, offering a truly immersive user experience. Our first test in Lillehammer, together with Samsung, for the Winter Youth Olympic Games was highly successful and we look forward to further exploring this exciting technology with NBC in Rio,” said Yiannis Exarchos, OBS CEO. “VR has the power to enable hundreds of millions of people around the world to have a real sense of presence and participation in the most universal celebration of humanity, which is the Olympic Games.”

Virtual Reality immerses the viewer into an environment, whether real or imagined, creating either a lifelike experience at a place in the real world or putting a viewer into simulated environments such as in a VR game. Samsung’s Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 phones, when paired with the Samsung Gear VR headset, provide an untethered, fully-immersive experience with 360-degree content for a mobile VR experience that enables people to enjoy an ever-growing library of premium and entertaining games, apps, photos and videos wherever they are.

Samsung is the Official Smartphone Partner of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics is Friday, August 5, on NBC.

About NBC Olympics
A division of NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s Olympic Games coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. The London 2012 Olympic Games were   watched by 217 million Americans across the networks of NBCUniversal, making it the most-watched event in U.S. television history.

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Olympic Games
Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications platform, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile devices. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time, user location-based information service, interactive communications, and Samsung Pay. Samsung hosts various Olympic campaigns to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its innovative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020.

Source: Samsung Newsroom US