CIGARETTES and sport should go together about as naturally as a lighted match and a tank of petrol. But money talks all known languages and, as a result, banned in most countries from advertising their wares in print and television, cigarette companies circumvent those laws by becoming deeply involved in sports sponsorship.
All this is not new - but finding a solution to sport promotions without aid from tobacco companies is not that easy.
Yet another cigarette-sponsored tennis tournament is on the way here but without the company involved there might well be no event at all.
There is more than an awareness of just how insidious tobacco sponsorship of major sports events really is.
Perimeter advertising boards at major stadiums ensure some television coverage as does actual tournament title sponsorship.
There is something inherently distasteful about tobacco - a known killer - being involved with young athletes in the prime of sporting life.
