Swiss Indoors forced to drop tobacco sponsor after 17 years, under pressure from ATP
By APTuesday, August 10, 2010
Swiss Indoors forced to drop tobacco sponsor
BASEL, Switzerland — One of world sport’s last tobacco sponsorships is ending, at the Swiss Indoors tennis event in Roger Federer’s hometown of Basel.
Tournament organizers say the 2010 event in November is the last of a 17-year partnership with tobacco brand Davidoff.
Swiss Indoors said in a statement that the ATP World Tour told the tournament in June the existing sponsorship could not be extended because of worldwide laws restricting tobacco advertising on television.
The tournament was promoted in status last year to an ATP 500 event, giving the tour central control over TV rights.
The 2009 Swiss Indoors was broadcast in 150 countries and had a six-fold increase in ratings, but the sponsor’s name was dropped during transmissions.
