IPC and Samsung to launch Sochi 2014 Samsung Paralympic Bloggers

“The Samsung Paralympic Bloggers project will take fans into the lives of athletes to see what the Paralympic Winter Games are like off the field of play. "

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is partnering with its Worldwide Paralympic Partner Samsung to provide 30 leading athletes the chance to record exclusive behind-the-scenes video blogs during the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games from 7-16 March.

The project is part of Samsung’s Sochi 2014 Paralympic campaign: “Sport Doesn’t Care,” which highlights that everyone has problems in their lives to overcome, and that sport can help them do so.

The motto of the campaign is “Sport doesn’t care what our problem is. Sport just cares that we do what we can to achieve our goal.”

The athletes involved in the Samsung Paralympic Bloggers project will be able to share their challenges and victories with the world using a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, including exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of what viewers do not see on their television screens at home.

All of the athlete-generated content will be uploaded to the IPC's YouTube Channel, and the athletes’ social media accounts at just the touch of a button.

Craig Spence, IPC Director of Communications and Media, said: “The Samsung Paralympic Bloggers project will take fans into the lives of athletes to see what the Paralympic Winter Games are like off the field of play. The world will have the chance to hear from the athletes first-hand on their Sochi 2014 experiences.”

This initiative is an extension of the project from the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where 50 athletes recorded nearly 700 video blogs using Samsung Galaxy devices, and the content was uploaded to the IPC’s YouTube Channel and shared on IPC, London 2012 and Samsung’s online outlets.

It was the first time that athletes created video blogs from a major sporting event.

Those Paralympians who took part in London were also successful off camera, picking up 39 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze medals at the Games.

The IPC and Samsung will challenge the world to focus on an athletes’ ability and engage with their personal stories, allowing fans to get closer to the lives of Paralympians than ever before.

“We are honored to cooperate with the IPC once again for the Samsung Paralympic Blogger program at Sochi 2014. Samsung, as a committed partner of the Paralympic Games, aims to use our smart technology to encourage participation and to share the inspiration of the Paralympic Games with people around the world. ”said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics.

Samsung recently released its manifesto video to accompany the campaign.

The video has been developed to celebrate the dedication and achievements of the Paralympians and to support their tireless pursuit of their dreams.

The list of athletes taking part in the Samsung Paralympic Bloggers project includes:

Alpine skiing

Marie Bochet, France – Six-time world champion

Melania Corradini, Italy – 2010 Paralympic silver medallist

Anna-Lena Forster, Germany – 2012-13 World Championship silver medallist

Jessica Gallagher, Australia – 2010 Paralympic bronze medallist

Vincent Gauthier-Manuel, France – Three-time Paralympic medallist

Kimberly Joines, Canada – Two-time world champion

Claudia Loesch, Austria – Two-time Paralympic champion

Andrea Rothfuss, Germany – Five-time Paralympic medallist

Katja Saarinen, Finland – Two-time Paralympian

Markus Salcher, Austria – Two-time world champion

Igor Sikorski, Poland – one of Poland’s top-ranked skiers

Ice sledge hockey

Steve Cash, USA – 2010 Paralympic champion, 2012 world champion

Seung-Hwan Jung, South Korea – 2012 world silver medallist

Graeme Murray, Canada – 2013 world champion

Josh Pauls, USA – 2010 Paralympic champion, 2012 world champion

Florian Planker, Italy – 2011 European champion

Gianluigi Rosa, Italy – 2011 European champion

Morten Vaernes, Norway - 2010 Paralympic bronze medallist, 2006 Paralympic silver medallist

Greg Westlake, Canada – 2006 Paralympic champion, 2013 world champion

Nordic skiing

Mariann Marthinsen, Norway – Three-time Paralympian, Paralympic bronze medallist (swimming)

Oksana Masters, USA – Competed on 2013-14 World Cup circuit, Paralympic bronze medallist (rowing)

Tatyana McFadden, USA – Competed on 2013-14 World Cup circuit, three-time Paralympic champion (athletics)

Nils-Erik Ulset, Norway – Three-time Paralympic and world champion

Snowboard

Joany Badenhorst, Australia – Competed on 2013-14 World Cup circuit

Heidi Jo Duce, USA – Competed on 2013-14 World Cup circuit

Keith Gabel, USA – Competed on 2013-14 World Cup circuit

Mike Shea, USA – 2103-14 World Cup winner

Wheelchair curling

Jalle Jungnell, Sweden – Two-time Paralympic bronze medallist

Myung-Jin Kim, South Korea – Paralympic silver medallist

Related Images

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Italy's Gianluigi Rosa will be a key part of trying to get his team to the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

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Jalle Jungnell of Sweden releases the stone during the Wheelchair Curling Round Robin game between Sweden and Korea at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

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After completing a marathon Grand Slam in 2013, the USA's Tatyana McFadden has achieved top-10 finishes at the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in the 2013-14 season.

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Melania Corradini