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May 9, 2008
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Lewis Hamilton Takes On Role Of Apollo For Sponsor Vodafone

Hamilton (c) Plays Role Of Apollo As
Part Of Vodafone Promotion In Turkey
F1 driver Lewis Hamilton "may want to think again about what he should and should not consent to do" for corporate sponsors after appearing onstage Thursday in Istanbul, Turkey, as part of a promo for Vodafone, according to Edward Gorman of the LONDON TIMES. Hamilton played the role of the Greek God Apollo as part of a performance of "Fire of Anatolia," and he "found himself 'flying' on to a stage on which a mock battle for Troy was being fought." Vodafone sponsors both Hamilton's McLaren Mercedes F1 team and the play, and Hamilton's involvement was an "attempt to combine two disparate elements of Vodafone's worldwide sponsorship portfolio." The play draws sold-out crowds in Istanbul, but Gorman writes, "It was embarrassing to watch him as he descended slowly to the stage on a trapeze wire. ... Dressed in his logoed race driving suit, he looked less like a majestic Apollo than a cross between Peter Pan and an astronaut." Hamilton: "For sure if I had to wear some strange Borat crazy suit, I wouldn't be doing that" (LONDON TIMES, 5/9). Hamilton was "reportedly disappointed when told after the performance that he looked ridiculous." Hamilton: "I was thinking 'I am a God flying in' and how the hell does that look?" The SYDNEY MORNING HERALD writes the appearance "has taken its place in the pantheon of outrageous publicity stunts" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/9).


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