North Korea not allowing Olympic athletes to receive Samsung Galaxy S7 phones - CNET

Samsung hoped that no Olympic athlete would leave Rio empty handed. The South Korean electronics giant provided the more than 11,000 athletes competing in the Rio 2016 Olympics with a special edition Galaxy S7 smartphone.

One country, however, has refused the free gift. According to a report from Radio Free Asia, North Korea prevented the country's 31 competing athletes from receiving the complimentary smartphone. The report claims a North Korean official went to the Samsung office and took all of the phones that were to be provided to the country's athletes.

Kim Song I, a North Korean athlete competing in table tennis, reportedly shook her head when asked by Radio Free Asia if she had received the phone.

North Korea has strict rules for its athletes. The Washington Post reports that athletes are not allowed to visit places of interest and are discouraged from interacting with others, although no official world was given as to why the athletes didn't receive the phone.