REEBOK AND LEWIS HAMILTON MAKE DRIVING A WORK OF ART

REEBOK COMMISSIONS NEW PAINTING OF LEWIS HAMILTON…WITH A DIFFERENCE

Canton, MA (October 20th, 2008) – Today, Reebok announces the commission of a unique giant portrait of Global Ambassador Lewis Hamilton to celebrate his fantastic season. Contemporary British artist, Ian Cook will create the portrait in London using his own unique style known as ‘Auto Drawings;’ instead of conventional brushes Ian creates his images by dipping small remote controlled cars in paint and driving them across a canvas!

The 8 metres x 12 metres painting covers an area of 96m2 and will take a week to complete. Reebok will unveil the finished portrait on a specially-created site in the shadow of London’s Tower Bridge where it will remain on display over the final weekend of Lewis’s season.

From Monday 20th October until Saturday 25th October Ian will work in a studio especially created for him by Reebok on Regent Street only a few yards away from London’s world-famous, Piccadilly Circus. Members of the public are encouraged to visit the studio and watch Ian work.

Cook said, “I’m really excited to be working with Reebok on this project. Lewis has one of the most famous faces in sport; it will be a lot of fun capturing his image in a style so closely linked to his profession! I hope lots of people come and see me paint, it’s quite a spectacle!"

Using a selection of remote controlled cars, Cook creates brush strokes by applying paint to the cars tyres and then driving in short bursts over the canvas. Cook will use a number of different cars dipped in different coloured paints as he creates the image.

“With this style of painting”, he says “my biggest worry is getting a flat tyre!”

Tom Shine, Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing for Reebok said; “Reebok is a brand that celebrates individuality in sport and in life. Lewis is a one-of-a-kind so when we heard about Ian’s truly unique style it was a natural fit!”

Lewis will see the portrait for himself on Wednesday 29 October when Reebok unveils the finished painting in front of London’s Tower Bridge. He will join the celebrations from Sao Paulo via a big screen.

Reebok announced its partnership with Lewis Hamilton in May of this year. He is the latest sporting icon to join a roster which includes basketball superstars Yao Ming and Allen Iverson, FC Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, Indian cricket sensations MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid, women’s tennis star Jelena Jankovic, NHL star Alexander Ovechkin and legendary Swedish athlete Carolina Klüft among many others.

Reebok International, based in Canton, Mass., is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment. A subsidiary of the adidas Group, the company operates under the Reebok, CCM, Jofa, and Koho brands. For more information, visit Reebok at www.reebok.com.