ONLINE GAMBLING GROUP BLASTS CYCLE TOUR ORGANISERS
22 June 2007
Ban imposed on sponsored cycling team condemned as
scandalous
Online gambling group Unibet is understandably
outraged at a ban on its sponsored Green Cycle Team from
next month's Tour de France - allegedly because of
French laws that forbid online gambling advertising by
foreign companies. The injustice is compounded because
the main sponsor of the Tour, which begins in London, is
France's horse betting monopoly Pari Mutuel Urbain, with
French lottery operator La Francaise des Jeux the
sponsor of a team, too.
Swedish-owned Unibet has committed a considerable
investment to the Green team, which qualified for a four
year Pro Tour licence last year permitting entry to
major cycling events.
Tour de France race coordinator Christian Prudhomme has
explained his decision as simply obeying French law,
something to which European Union market commissioner
Charlie McCreevey has objected.
The Green team was allowed to compete in a race in
Marseille earlier this year, but the gaming firm's logos
had to be removed from all clothing, Unibet spokeswoman
Inga Lundberg told the BBC. She said race organisers had
now insisted that the nine man team would not be able to
compete at all in the Tour de France even if it removed
the logos and was not known as the Unibet team.
"This whole situation is a scandal," Ms Lundberg said.
Green team director Jacque Hanegraaf said that the
decision would have an economic and personal impact on
the team. "We have not given up yet and for the team,
taking part in the event is the most important thing,
even if it means the loss of our corporate identity, but
we should not have to do that. By denying the riders the
chance to compete in the highlight of the cycling
calendar the organisers are damaging careers."
He added that cycling had been singled out and as a
comparison pointed out that it was inconceivable that
French television would not show a crucial European
football match because one of the teams had a gaming
firm as a sponsor.
Unibet is listed on the Stockholm exchange and provides
some 1.7 million customers with sports betting, poker
and casino games.
Online Casino News courtesy of
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