
(ATR) Negotations between the IOC and Samsung to renew the South Korean company's TOP Sponsorship went down to the last minute, Around the Rings understands.
Sources close to the negotiations tellATRthe two reached an agreement minutes before the start of the Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony in Nanjing.Samsung maintains its mobile phone category, while adding the computing category to its deal, covering the 2018 and 2020 Games.
The expanded category will includesmartphones, tablets, laptops, personal computers, and desktop printers.
The signing ceremony took place on Aug. 17 in Nanjing where the 2014 Youth Olympic Games are underway.
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McDonald’s Closed in Moscow
Four McDonald’s restaurants in Moscow were temporarily shut down due to "sanitary reasons."
Rospotrebnadzor, Russia’s government consumer rights department, announced the closings on Wednesday after food tests revealed sanitary violations. The restaurants are locatedat Pushkin Square, Manezh Square and Prospect Mira.
Media reports suggest the closings are an anti-American statement from the Kremlin over recent diplomatic disputes.
"We are closely studying the subject of the documents to define what should be done to re-open the restaurants as soon as possible" McDonald Russia said in a statement.
Medical Imaging For Pan American Games
The medial team at the 2015 Pan American Games will receive an upgrade in equipment from Siemens Canada.
The electronics company will provide portable x-rays and ultrasound machines for health-care officials in the Pan American village.
"Our partnership with Siemens Canada is great news for the athletes coming here to compete in the summer of 2015," Saad Rafi, CEO of Toronto 2015, said in a statement.
"This is just one more example of the ways we’re providing a world-class experience for them both on and off the field."
SportAccord Extend Timekeeping Partnership
SportAccord added time to its partnership with the the Swatch Group.
On Tuesday, the umbrella body for international sport federations said the Swatch Group will serve as official timekeeper forSportAccord's multi-sport games through 2018.
"Swatch Group’s accuracy, technological competencies and years of experience have contributed to the success of all our events," SportAccord president Marius Vizer said in a statement.
"Swatch Group is happy to continue its association with SportAccord," François Thiebaud, President of Tissot, said in a statement.
"It shows the commitment of Swatch Group to the sports and the athletes all over the world."
The lineup of SportAccord's sporting invents include: World Mind Games, World Combat Games, World Artistic Games, and World Beach Games.
SportAccord and the Swatch Group started their partnership in 2010.
Written by Aaron Bauer
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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