Samsung Korea Scandal Heats Up -- Sponsor Spotlight

(ATR) Samsung Group head Jay Lee was reportedly questioned for more than 22 hours by special prosecutors investigating the ongoing influence-peddling scandal in South Korea.

Media reports from Korea say that Lee left the special prosecutor’s office early on Friday.

A spokesman for the special prosecutor’s office told Reuters that Lee denied some of the suspicions against him but admitted to others.

Investigators are questioning Lee to see if a merger between two Samsung Group entities was approved because of a donation made to Soon Sil Choi’s foundation. Choi is a confidant of President Geun Hye Park and is at the center of the scandal that threatens to topple the Park government.

Park was impeached last month by the South Korean legislature and now faces trial by a constitutional court. If she is removed from office new elections must take place within 60 days.

Choi is the daughter of a shamanic figure in Korea, and is charged with receiving classified documents from Park and leveraging her influence to receive monetary benefits from South Korea’s largest companies.

The scandal has also reportedly included advertising deals for PyeongChang 2018 done for the purpose of funneling money to Choi’s family.

COC Renews Longest Running Partner

The Royal Bank of Canada will contribute to Canadian sport development through 2024.

RBC has supported the Canadian Olympic Committee as a sponsor since the 1948 Olympic Games in St. Moritz. The bank is the longest running sponsor for the COC.

As part of the renewed agreement the RBC will continue its "Training Ground" program with the COC. The program helps identify young Canadian athletes and helps contribute to their continued athletic pursuits, according to a release.

Fifteen "Training Ground" qualifiers will be run all over Canada in 2017, with 50 athletes being selected from four "Training Ground" finals. A full list of the "Training Ground" events can be found here.

"RBC's commitment to the Canadian Olympic team is unparalleled in its longevity and generosity," Chris Overholt, the CEO and secretary general of the COC, said in a statement. "Now looking ahead, we couldn't be more grateful for their renewed support in developing the next generations of Olympians."

German Sports Confederation Gets Green Cars

Toyota Germany is providing hybrid cars for the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) in a new partnership.

Toyota inked a record TOP Sponsorship deal with the IOC in March 2015. The agreement lasts through the 2024 Olympics, and is the first from an automotive company for the IOC. As a TOP Sponsor Toyota has worldwide rights for exclusive Olympic branding, and supports all 206 National Olympic Committees and Olympic organizing committees.

The DOSB is not the only NOC to have received benefits from Toyota after the IOC agreement was signed.

As part of the agreement, both Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles were delivered to the DOSB according to a release from the NOC.

"For us, Toyota is a new, and at the same time, another important partner with worldwide successes in mobility issues," Michael Vesper, Chairman of the DOSB, said in a statement. "We are delighted that we are working together with innovative hybrid and fuel cell cars in the sense of the environment."

Manchester United Partners with Uber

Fans of the popular English football club have a new way to safely arrive at Premier League matches taking place at Old Trafford.

Manchester United’s stadium will now have a designated pick up and drop off area for Uber drivers and passengers.

Group managing director of Manchester United Richard Arnold says the partnership will help improve the overall fan experience at their matches.

"Supporters will tell you that the journey to and from a game, whether they are watching it at Old Trafford or another venue on the other side of the world, is an important part of the matchday experience, contributing to the build-up and anticipation of the day," said Arnold.

"Working with Uber we will look to enhance this experience for our 659 million followers, both home and abroad, by bringing them the spirit of Old Trafford and Manchester United through various experiences and interactive campaigns."

ITTF Pens Deal with Seamaster

The International Table Tennis Federation will name its 2017 World Tour after Chinese shipping company Seamaster.

The partners inked a four-year deal on Jan. 12 that entails sponsorship of the World Tour, collaboration on development projects and collaborative development of all World Tour aspects such as prize money, presentation and fan experience.

The ITTF has partnered with Seamaster a few times in the past including the 2016 ITTF Women's World Cup, 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals and the 2016 ITTF Star Awards.

"Seamaster has been involved in recent ITTF events, and we believe they are a great fit for the established ITTF World Tour," said ITTF president Thomas Weikert. "This new partnership with Seamaster will allow the ITTF to push the World Tour to new unseen heights to give our players the best possible conditions to excel as well as conducting some social initiatives around the world."

Written by Gerard Farek, Aaron Bauer and Kevin Nutley.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.