South Africa bids for Formula 1 (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Tuesday August 4, 2:42 AM

Motor racing-S.Africa bids F1 despite tobacco ban

By Jeremy Lovell

CAPE TOWN, Aug 3 (Reuters) - South Africa is convinced it will host a
Formula One race next season after a six-year gap
despite the introduction of a bill banning tobacco advertising, Sports
Minister Steve Tshwete said on Monday.

"We will have the race. We want to clear every hurdle in getting Formula One
here," he told a news conference.

He said Bernie Ecclestone, the boss of the Formula One Constructors'
Association, had been invited to lunch with himself and
President Nelson Mandela on August 19 to clear up any problems stemming from
the Tobacco Ammendment Bill.

"He is aware of what the developments are. He has not reacted up to now. But
I don't think it will be negative at all," Tshwete
said.

"It is in our interests to ensure that South Africa does not lose the chance
to host the Formula One event," he added.

A spokesman for AA Racing, owned by the Automobile Association, which has
handled negotiations for the event said a
preliminary deal had been agreed to stage the race.

"We have signed a contract with Bernie Ecclestone," Selwyn Nathan told
Reuters by telephone from Johannesburg. "But that
does not guarantee we will get the race. We are waiting for next season's
calendar to be published on October 1 to see."

The race, last held in South Africa in 1993, would, as in the past, take
place in Kyalami near Johannesburg, he said.

Nathan said he met Ecclestone last week and handed him a copy of the Tobacco
Ammendment Bill.

The bill, introduced to parliament last week and expected to become law
before the end of the year, bans all tobacco
advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

However, Health Minister Nkososana Zuma said the bill would allow the ban to
be phased in over an as yet unspecified
period in certain sports.

The tobacco industry is a major sponsor of Formula One motor racing around
the world.

Last year when Belgium passed a law banning all tobacco advertising and
sponsorship from the start of 1999 with no phasing
in period, Ecclestone threatened to immediately cancel the Spa-Francorchamps
Formula One race for 1998.

A rash of legal actions by the local race organisers, businesses and the
regional government against the federal government
persuaded Ecclestone to change his mind, but his muscle flexing made a deep
impact on other nations.

The European Union also passed legislation last year which phases in bans on
tobacco sponsorship of events like motor racing
and show jumping. 

REUTERS