Players to end sponsorship activities following
the 2003 season
Player's Ltd., a staunch supporter of Canadian
motor-sports' events and racing programs for the last 42 years, announced
today that the 2003 season will be its last as a sponsor, a role that includes
its co-ownership of Team Player's in the Champ Car World Series.
In making the announcement at a news conference in Toronto, site of this
weekend's Molson Indy race involving Team Player's, Bob Bexon, the president
and CEO of Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, which markets the Player's brand,
said the decision to bow out is related to the impending federal government ban
on tobacco-company sponsorship
Federal government legislation, introduced in 1997, set down a series of
restrictions pertaining to the tobacco industry, including the banning of
sponsorship activities as of October 1, 2003.
"The Tobacco Act is currently under appeal by the three major Canadian tobacco
manufacturers," said Mr. Bexon. "However, due to the legislation that will
be in force as of October 1, we have no other choice but to withdraw from
motor-sports sponsorship. We are taking our leave with a great deal of
reluctance and sadness, but we do so with considerable pride in what has been
accomplished in the last 42 years."