Iranian athletes at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games will receive Samsung mobile phones, organizers said, after Iran summoned South Korea’s ambassador over reports its athletes would not get the gifts.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said athletes from both countries would receive the phones but that the North Koreans would be asked not to take the devices home.
"The IOC will provide mobile phones to all athletes of all countries participating at the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018. These phones contain essential logistical and competition information for the athletes," an IOC spokesperson said.
"Regarding Iran, we can confirm that all participants will be able to keep the phones. Regarding North Korea, all participants are requested not to take the phones back to their home country," Reuters cited the spokesperson as saying.
News reports earlier said 4000 of the latest Samsung smartphones were being given to athletes attending the Winter Games, but athletes from Iran and North Korea would be excluded because of sanctions against the two countries.
