PLEA OVER TOBACCO SPONSORSHIP

THE Government faced calls yesterday to allow a raft of sports a
temporary exemption from its ban on tobacco sponsorship after it
emerged that snooker, as well as Formula One motor racing, could enjoy
a reprieve.

Like Formula One, snooker is expected to be categorised as a "global"
operation, a classification that will allow both sports an extra three
years from 2003, when the ban takes effect generally, to find
alternative sponsorship.

The Institute of Sport Sponsorship, representing sports sponsors, said
the Government's approach was "illogical and discriminatory" and
called for the ban to be delayed until 2006. Mike Reynolds, the
director, said: "If there is a case for the continuation of tobacco
sponsorship for a wealthy, high-profile sport like Formula One, then
the argument certainly applies for snooker, which is struggling to
fund some major tournaments. The case is even stronger for other
sports such as fishing, darts and ice hockey which are much more
reliant on tobacco sponsorship."

The ISS is writing to Tony Banks, the sports minister, and Frank
Dobson, the Health Secretary.