Samsung denies Pyeongchang Olympic lobbying allegation
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — Samsung has denied a media report it launched illicit lobbying to help bring the 2018 Winter Olympics to Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The Seoul-based SBS television network reported last week Samsung tried to use as a lobbyist Papa Massata Diack, the son of Lamine Diack, a disgraced former head of the International Association of Athletics Federations.
The SBS said the son requested Samsung to sign a $9.5 million sponsorship for the IAAF’s Diamond League circuit from 2010-2012 in return for possibly lobbying some IOC members to support Pyeongchang’s bid. The SBS based its speculation on email exchanges between Samsung and Papa Massata Diack that it says were contained among documents South Korean prosecutors confiscated in a raid on Samsung over a separate corruption investigation last year.
Samsung has responded by calling the SBS report inaccurate. It says it’s signed legitimate sponsorship contracts with many international sports organizations, including the IAAF.