Miami, FL–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–December 20, 2007–The Brazil Open announces an initiative to become more environmentally conscious in the Americas starting February 2008. It hopes to reduce the negative effects on the environment produced by the influx of tourism during the tournament by becoming one of the first tournaments to lead a green movement.
“This event will serve as a great example in teaching and encouraging others to take actions towards conserving the environment,” said Fernando von Oertzen, Tournament Director of the Brazil Open. “I am sure we can raise awareness and mobilize many people to change their daily habits that may seem small or insignificant now, but will have an enormous impact as a whole.”
The Brazil Open will be held in Costa do Sauipe located in an area known as the Bahia in Brazil which is renowned for its lush natural beauty and stunning beaches, thus a perfect setting to encourage conservation efforts. The tournament will plant 500 trees to neutralize carbon emissions during the competition and will utilize text messaging through cellular phones as an alternative to brochures in diffusing tournament information such as daily programs and results. Participants will have the choice to opt into the free service at any time during the Open which will additionally include tips on what they can do to reduce their personal environmental impact, such as reducing energy consumption, using biodegradable materials and avoiding plastic products.
In efforts to save energy, all unnecessary power generators, air conditioning units and lights will be shut down throughout the night. Bosch, one of the tournament sponsors, will provide the latest versions of energy savers/reduced environmental impact refrigerators, freezers, microwaves etc. in all tournament areas.
The daily garbage generated at the site, including ball cans, plastic bottles and old racquet strings, will be used by local children in the Berimbau Project. The Project consists of craft work created using recyclable materials and will be exhibited at the Banco do Brasil booth.
As part of the Latin American Tennis Swing, which consists of the four largest tournaments across Latin America, the Brazil Open will celebrate various ancillary events including fashion shows, musical performances and VIP receptions. These green efforts will also be demonstrated in a Recicla Jeans, or Recycled Jeans, Fashion Show and an exposition of products and crafts as part of the Berimbau Project.
The Brazil Open will begin on February 11, following the Movistar Open in Vina del Mar, Chile which starts on January 28. The ensuing Latin Swing tournaments are Copa Telmex in Buenos Aires, Argentina on February 18 and the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico on February 25.
For more information on the Brazil Open and/or the Association of Tennis Professionals, please visit http://www.atptennis.com.
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