Igniting the sporting spirit

APART from rolling out Android devices that sell like hot cakes, Samsung has always played a big part in sport and, in particular, the Asian Games.
The Korean manufacturer is a long-time supporter of the games, beginning as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1986 Asian Games and since 1998, as an official partner of the hosting countries.
For the 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014, Samsung Malaysia Electronics president Lee Dong Yong recently announced the electronics giant continuing commitment and involvement as the games’ prestige sponsor.
Samsung also has a comprehensive role to play in the games through its support campaign, ‘Our Games, Our Pride’.
The campaign will see Samsung operate three programmes – Team Samsung, Samsung Social Caster, and Samsung MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award – designed to replicate the inspirational success of its past campaigns and bring the Asian Games experience closer to audiences across Asia.
For the Team Samsung initiative, Samsung brings together 26 top athletes competing in different categories from the national teams of China, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Jordan.
The two representing Malaysia on Team Samsung are world No.1 badminton singles player and Olympic silver medallist Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Olympic bronze medallist and national diver Pandelela Rinong Pamg.
They each received a Samsung Galaxy K Zoom smartphone and a Samsung NX Mini camera as a token of appreciation from the company for being on Team Samsung at the launch event.
Lee remarked that this will be his final participation in the Asian Games.
It is hoped that the Malaysian team can emulate or better our nine-gold success at the last Asian Games held in Guangzhou four years ago.
The Team Samsung athletes will play a key role before and during the games by sharing their stories with the public in a range of activities across several media including television and digital.
Besides that, Samsung has also commissioned professional bloggers from China, Thailand, Malaysia, Jordan and Indonesia to bring the games closer to home.
Through Samsung Social Caster, these bloggers will capture their experiences in Incheon, Korea, and share them live on various social media channels in Asia using Samsung’s smart technology.
The bloggers will be covering both the opening and closing ceremonies as they follow Team Samsung athletes throughout the 16 days of the games from Sept 19 to Oct 4.
In addition to that, Samsung will once again be presenting the Samsung MVP Award to honour the athlete with the most notable achievements at the games.
Jointly organised by Samsung, the Olympic Council of Asia and the Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee, the winner will be selected by journalists and broadcasters covering the games and will receive the trophy and award at the closing ceremony.
Samsung will also be operating the Samsung Asian Games Pavilion near the Incheon Asiad Stadium for the public.
The pavilion will offer visitors an experience zone to enjoy the games using the latest Samsung mobile devices as well as a Samsung Lounge at both the Main Press Centre and the Athlete’s Village.