Olympic Newsdesk - Samsung Launches Sochi Campaign; Rogge, EU Meet

Samsung Launches Sochi Campaign

Samsung unveiled its official Olympic Games promotional campaign for Sochi 2014.

The "Everyone’s Olympic Games" campaign continues schemes used at previous Games – including the Wireless Olympic Works communication platform – and features a slate of Russian Olympians as brand ambassadors.

Cross-country ski champion Kriukov, Winter Youth Olympic Games gold medalist figure skater Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and short-track speedskater Tatyana Borodulina were announced as Samsung ambassadors on Monday.

"Samsung supports Sochi 2014 to be a truly social Olympic Games by enabling fans to be actively involved and share their experiences anytime, anywhere," said Yung Kook Lee, Vice President and Head of Global Sports Marketing, Samsung Electronics.

"We also provide the most advanced wireless technology to the Olympic family to contribute to the successful staging of the Games."

Figure Skating WCs to Boston

Boston will stage the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships, the International Skating Union announced.

Also on Monday, the ISU Council awarded the 2015 World Synchronized Skating Championships to Hamilton, Canada; the 2016 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships to Seoul; and the 2016 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships to Kolomna, Russia.

Hosting rights to the 2016 World Allround Speed Skating Championships, 2016 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships and 2016 World Synchronized Skating Championships are still pending.

EU, IOC Pledge to Continue "Special Relationship"

European Union Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou met with IOC President Jacques Rogge on Monday, with both organizations agreeing to promote sport.

A statement from the IOC says the meeting featured discussion on a number of topics including Erasmus for All, the EU’s program for funding grassroots sports development, and a European Week of Sport program, scheduled for 2015.

"Everything that helps to get people physically active should be supported," Rogge said.

Commissioner Vassiliou said: "The IOC is a very valuable partner for the EU and establishing an annual dialogue will allow us to build on this special relationship. Meeting on this basis will ensure continuity for the benefit of sport."

The meeting was part of the EU’s "structured dialogue" with the sports world.

IOC Opens Asian Broadcast Sales

The IOC opened sales for broadcast rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympics in 24 countries throughout Asia.

In a statement, the IOC said bids will be assessed "on their ability to meet the highest standards in broadcast quality, their capacity to reach the broadest possible audience across different media platforms, their commitment to promoting the Olympic Games and the values of the Olympic Movement, as well as on the financial offer."

Bids are due by end of business on July 5.

NOC Briefs...

...Gustavo Dias Vaz da Conceicao was reelected as president of the Angolan Olympic Committee. He was first elected in 2005 and will serve until 2017.

... Philippe Vander Putten was selected as the first CEO of the Belgian Olympic Committee (COIB). He will begin working on Sept. 1, overseeing day-to-day operations and implementing strategic plans for the COIB. In a statement, Pierre-Olivier Beckers, IOC member and president of the COIB, praised the new CEO’s experience in team management and marketing.

Written by Ed Hula III, Matthew Grayson and Aaron Bauer.

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