"We are in the cigarette business. We are not in the sports business. We use sports as an avenue for advertising our products." Tobacco Industry Executive (at RJR)

Using tennis to sell death

In a turn of event that has been a very serious slap in the face for the Davidoff Swiss Indoors, UNESCO, the United Nations organization dedicated to education, science and culture, has flatly rejected a donation from the organizers of the Basel tournament, saying that it would not accept tobacco money.

In two press releases issued in 2009, the organizers of the Basel tournament had announced, in much fanfare, that they would make a donation to "UN charity UNESCO" (sic!). There was, however, a slight problem with the announcement: it is strictly against UNESCO's rules to receive donation linked to the tobacco industry. Furthermore, the Davidoff people had failed to consult UNESCO before announcing their donation - perhaps hoping to place the organization before a fait accompli.

Fortunately, UNESCO was warned about the plan, which angered their Director-General. He wrote a harsh letter to Mr. Brennwald, telling him that UNESCO was refusing the money and that he found the move to announce the donation without prior consultation with UNESCO offensive. He added that he had instructed Ms Caballé, the world renowned opera singer, that she could not appear at the event in her capacity as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador to receive any donation of any kind from the Davidoff Swiss Indoors.

Although much communication was made to announce the donation, the organizers remained silent when they were rebuffed by UNESCO. Consistent with their ostrich policy, they made no comment, even when the incident was reported by the media.