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Boost commercial with Sachin Tendulkar. After Then there is the sports star that eventually
that, sports stars have ruled the roost in Indian ends up as a film actor. A great international
advertising. example is Arnold Schwarzenegger. A body
builder, he became famous as the Terminator and
Caution required even became the Governor of California which
So, what is the difference between sports stars is less unusual. Arnold has 50 film credits to
and film stars when it comes to endorsing his name. Many of our Indian sports stars have
brands? also become politicians, the latest being Gautam
I think sports stars have to be much more Gambhir who has been preceded by others like
careful about endorsements. Because they Navjot Singh Siddhu, Mohammad Azharuddin,
represent ‘ideal health’ to the masses, sports stars and Kirti Azad to name a few.
have to be cautious about endorsing unhealthy
products. They have an important responsibility Role in society
to promote public health unlike film stars. This is After retirement sports stars can help in the area
particularly true of food and beverage products. of public reform. After retirement they often
Virat Kohil ended a six-year contract with Pepsi use their popularity and personal dedication to
because the product went against his ideals of help reduce or prevent negative developments
fitness. and participate in implementing reforms.
A sports star’s career is much shorter than Mohammad Ali, Pele and many others followed
that of the film star. Because their profession is this route. Pele for example became Minister of
dependent on physical fitness, most sports stars Sport for Brazil.
give up active sports by the time they are 40. As India moves from a single sport nation like
But films stars have a career even when they get cricket to badminton, football and other sports,
older because there is always a place for an older sports stars in the country will be on the rise.
character in any script or story. Sports is an important aspect of any nation
because it can teach you life skills like no other
activity can. Sportsmen and sportswomen are
often admired for their status, achievements, and
sometimes for their inspiring journey to success.
Many young people look up to them and for a
young country like India, sports will become
more important as our country moves into the
future.
In India perhaps the first
sports icon to bring fame
to brands was Kapil Dev
with Palmolive
47 SENIORS TODAY | Issue #9 | March 15, 2020
