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Casinos> 2007
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Online Gambling Group Blasts Cycle Tour Organisers
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.
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