London Tournament Official Asks for Government to Relax Foreigner’s Tax

Written by: Staff on 19th November 2011

London Tournament Official Asks for Government to Relax Foreigner’s Tax

epa00696732 Runners pass Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in the 2006 Flora London Marathon as they near the end of the 26 mile run in London, Sunday 23 April 2006. EPA/Lindsey Parnaby |

Barclays ATP World Tour Finals managing director Chris Kermode, preparing a new five year bid to ensure the event stays in London until 2018, has revealed the lobbying of the British Government to order the Treasury to relax the tax laws that intimidate foreign sportsmen is now in force.

Last month Rafael Nadal admitted his decision to next year contest the Gerry Webber Open in Germany’s Halle rather than return to the pre-Wimbledon AEGON Championships at London’s Queen’s Club was largely influenced by the situation that saw him taxed heavily on both tournaments earnings and a large proportion of endorsement income.

“There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes on this issue,” said Kermode who is also tournament director At Queen’s Club. “Along with representatives from other sports, we are lobbying the Treasury, because they need to remember how valuable this tournament is — both for reinvestment in tennis and for inspiring young fans.”

The deal to stage the calendar-ending event at the London 02 Arena runs until 2013 and Kermode predicted actual negotiations with the tour will not begin until late next summer, probably around the time of the US Open.

However with the leadership of the ATP World Tour remaining uncertain, Kermode is currently concentrating on ensuring the players he and Wimbledon chief executive Ian Ritchie, along with similar officials from golf’s European PGA and the Royal and Ancient are working hard on tax matters.

As Kermode pointed out, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals — (which begin tomorrow — Sunday) should be cherished, because they represent the most inclusive tennis event in Britain. “This has become the people’s tournament,” he said.

Sales so far are on a par with last year, when 253,000 out of the available 262,500 were sold at this stage. Last night there were still some seats on sale for the afternoon sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

London ticket sales in other branches of the entertainment industry — music, theatre and other sporting events — have fallen around 20% because of the ongoing harsh economic climate.

“You can see from our sales that the level of demand for tennis in this country is huge,” insisted Kermode. “But they also reflect the calibre of the top eight players. In most eras of the game you had one star with a few secondary figures in his shadow. Now we have a generation of greats all here in the same week, and that is a massive bonus”.

“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”