Samsung denies having asked athletes to cover up iPhone logos during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony

All athletes attending the games are reported to have received a complimentary bundle that includes a Galaxy Note 3. Apparently, however, these weren't exactly free, as Swiss blog Bluewin reported that Swiss athletes were asked to cover up Apple logos during the opening ceremony. That way, the millions of people who are expected to tune in for the ceremony remotely tomorrow, will be treated to a sea of Samsung-made gadgetry. As it turns out, however, this rather serious accusation may not be entirely true, or so insists a Samsung spokesperson:

Plausible deniability? Could be. As the Guardian notes, sponsor/non-sponsor brands receive a starkly different treatment at the Olympics. Back in 2012, a sort of 'branding police' was established to protect sponsors' brands and prevent others from free-riding. That said, the International Olympic Committee also went on record to deny the claims. According to the IOC's press office, rules are rules, and it's business as usual:

The Galaxy Note 3 was named the "official Olympic phone" by the IOC, but we obviously have no evidence that Sammy really struck such a low blow. Even against its nemesis.

source: Guardian