Tobacco Documents Online

Yea& tVVL'1 Liui4. ! ASH Wins Virginia Slims Tournament Ban! Settlement clears the way for Slims tennis tournament Numerous people and organizations were concerned that the Park Serviee~ co-sponsorship would be misconstrued as an endorsement of cigarette smoking. I 'CO FRIDAY, AuausT 16, 1991 Park Service Bans rrobaCCo Sponsors Last Tennis Tourney For Virginia Slims ~ By Christine Spolar V/uhitytae Furt Shff Rrit« John Banzhaf, ASH executive di- rector, said his group "was delight- ed that we got this settled. We got everything we wanted." "Virginia Slims wants to get re- spectability by being associated with responsible organizations; Banzhaf said. 'he bottom line is that hopefully not too many young girls will be attracted ... to smok ing because of this agreement." The agreement signed yesterday settles a suit brought by the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a nonprofit group that charged that tobacco company sponsorship is "wrong, if not inappropriate." The agreement also limits adver- tising during this year's tournament and bans the free distribution of cigarette and tobacco products. The Park Service also agreed to post one or more signs that its co-spon- sorship of the Virginia Slims tour- nament "does not imply endorse- ment of any product." tional Pirk Service agreed yester- day to ban tobacco company spon- sorship of tennis tournaments in Rock Creek Park after next week. tianal anti-smoking group, the Nr Ina thana- ASH's law suit and the very substantial amount of adverse publicity it generated for the U.S. Park Service, as well as for Virginia Slims, has resulted in an agreement under which no further tobac- co company sponsored tournaments will be permitted in Rock Creek Park. In view of the controversy, it is unlikely that any such cigarette promotions will be permitted anywhere on U.S. Park property in the future. The Park Service also agreed to ASH's request to post special signs. at the Virginia Slims tournament held there this summer, and to severely limit the commercial activities at the event. United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE . NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION 1100 OHIO DRIVE, S.'W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20242 ~ ' S AIA 1JQ1 ~ 00 Mr. John F. Banzhaf III Executive Director and Chief Counsel Action on Smoking and Health ~ 2013 H Street, N.W. - ~ Washington, D.C. 20006 Dear Mr. Banzhaf: - This is intended to provide you with a statement of the National Park Service's intentions with respect. to the sponsorship of tennis tournaments at the Tennis Center within Rock Creek Park. In 1989,' the National Park Service (NPS) agreed to permit the: Washington Tennis Foundation to sponsor and conduct a sanctioned professional tennis tournament for women. The decision to permit that tournament on park property was based on our traditional support of recreational tennis in the city as well as the issue of fairness in so far as a men's professional tennis tournament had already been approved in a 1987 agreement. .We believe _that the current relationship between cigarette smoking and the professional women's tennis tournament is an unfortunate one. Although there is not enough time to change sponsors for this year's tournament,'I assure you that there will not be a tobacco sponsor for any' other tournaments at Rock Creek Park. In addition, the NPS does have regulations and policies regarding advertising of products or services on park property, and we will insure that there is no implied product endorsement by the Service. Only appropriate recognition of the event's sponsors will be permitted. We appreciate your interest and concern in this matter. Sinqe-rqly, Rec}ional Director, National Capital Region SMOKING AND HEALTH REVIEW. O Action on Smotdnq ard Health, 2013 H. St., N.W., Weshington, DC 20006. Adion on Smoktnq and Heatth, a national nonprufd taxaxempt ^ .-a•~~ M- ~+w n.,.9 -ew.,,a or smnwno and the rtohts of nonsrnokers, is entirely supported by tax•deducttble contnbutions. Regular contributers receive the Smokinp ASH Reviaw SeptJOct. 1991 Page 3