Chilean miners score iPods, holidays, cash ... and Japanese space underwear
Slowly getting over their trauma.The 33 rescued Chilean miners haven't just earned celebrity and the respect of their countryman. Our subterranean heroes have also been given free iPods, gifted by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs earlier today.One
NBR staff
Fri, 15 Oct 2010
Slowly getting over their trauma.
The 33 rescued Chilean miners haven’t just earned celebrity and the respect of their countryman.
Our subterranean heroes have also been given free iPods, gifted by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs earlier today.
One internet wag quipped that after 69 days underground, the miners at least deserved iPhones.
In truth, the iPods are likely to get lost in the giant goody bag that life has become for the miners.
The first miner emerged wearing sunglasses provided by Oakely (giving the unfortunate appearance that he had, in fact, been trapped for two months in a 1980s pop video).
Much more loot was to come. Since they surfaced:
- A local businessman has given each of the men $US10,000.
- Spanish football team FC Barcelona sent signed T-shirts.
- Manchester United has one-upped Barcelona by offering to fly the miners to watch a game in England.
- The Chilean football players' association has offered a trip to South Korea (yes, there is a strong soccer theme here).
- Elvis Presley Enterprises has offered a free trip to Graceland.
- A Santiago sushi chain has offered free sushi for a year.
- In case they were wondering what to put on their iPod playlists, US band The Pixies played their longest ever concert in honor of the rescued miners, playing a song for each of the 33 rescued men.
- In a bizarre touch, Japan's space agency sent each miner not one but five pairs of "space underwear".
- And one of the miners, Carlos Maman - a Bolivian - was promised a strip of land by his country's president, reported MSNBC. There was no immediate world if it was minable.
What do the sponsors get out of it? CNBC estimated that Oakley received $US41 million worth of exposure in exchange for its 33 pairs of sunglasses.
NBR staff
Fri, 15 Oct 2010
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