1.
GV EXT: BUILDING.
0.08

2.
SV LOW ANGLE: SIGN OUTSIDE.
0.14

3.
SV DELEGATES ENTER.
0.21

4.
GV INT: SEATED DELEGATES.
0.26

5.
SV DELEGATES LOOKING AT PAPER.
0.29

6.
SV TWO DELEGATES TALKING.
0.32

7.
SV TWO DELEGATES.
0.34

8.
SV THREE DELEGATES.
0.38

9.
SV A ROW OF DELEGATES.
0.42

10.
GV DELEGATES ON CONFERENCE ROOM. (2 SHOTS)
0.54



Initials RM/V/MR/SC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE INTERNATIONAL LAWN TENNIS FEDERATION (ILTF) VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN PARIS, FRANCE, YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) IN FAVOUR OF OPEN TENNIS. THIS DECISION, TAKEN AT THE ILTF'S EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING, GIVES THE GO-AHEAD FOR PROFESSIONAL TO TAKE PART IN THE FORMERLY STRICTLY AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN AUSTRALIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES.

THE DELEGATES ACCEPTED ALL THREE POINTS RECOMMENDED IN A REPORT BY THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. THESE ARE: (1) THE RETENTION OF THE IDEA OF AMATEURISM IN THE RULES OF THE ILTF; (2) THE RIGHT OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS TO SELF-DETERMINATION REGARDING THE STATUS OR STATUSES OF THEIR PLAYERS; (3) THE CREATION OF A STRICTLY LIMITED NUMBER OF OPEN TOURNAMENTS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE ILTF.

THE MEETING WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 100 DELEGATES FROM THE 65 MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE ILTF.