Health is a basic resource for human life, as it allows us to develop a more fulfilling life, and to obtain resources to support ourselves and others. Our health is conditioned by our environment and our lifestyle: in order, to promote good health, for most people, it means turning the healthiest option into the easiest option.
Physical activity enhances good health. The new public health order favours the regular practice of sport for the promotion of good health. There are exercise options for everyone, man or woman, young or old, physically challenged or able-bodied. Regular exercise provide better living, developing strength, stamina and flexibility, and it also enhances the sensation of well-being.
Tobacco use is one of the aspects of personal lifestyle which is most negative for health. Despite this, its use is promoted by aggressive publicity, often misleading, due to vested economic interest opposed to public health. Use of tobacco is harmful to the human body, particularly to the respiratory and circulatory functions, and thus affect performance in sport. Thus, the us of tobacco is not compatible with Olympic sports. It is also responsible for many avoidable deaths in developed countries, and is becoming a serious problem in developing countries. Health authorities are attempting to control its use, and in some countries promising results of these efforts are already visible.
The Olympic Games are a model and a reference for many young sports men and women, summarizing their ideal of individual excellence. As the Olympic Games are an event followed by millions of spectators around the world, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned sponsoring and publicity by the tobacco industry, strengthening the dignity and the healthy image of the Olympics. In this context, the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona were declared smoke-free, reinforcing the links between sports and health and refusing tobacco as a product non-compatible with sport or health.
The Barcelona Olympic Games were a very important challenge for the city and the country. Their declaration as smoke-free games has prompted a programme of joint action involving the Olympic Organizing Committee, the Bacelona City Council, the Catalan Government, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization. All organizations, corporations and citizens of Barcelona, and particularly sports-related organizations, were invited to join this effort for the development of sports and the promotion of health and for a smoke-free environment, in Barcelona and elsewhere.
Smoke-free sports serve as a source of inspiration for young people interested in sports. Big events such as a World Championship in athletics, one of the biggest sports events in the world, will attract many young people.
The first ever smoke-free World Championships in Athletics took place in Gothenburg, in August 1995. The initiative, following the smoke-free example set by the Olympic Games in Calgary, Seoul, Barcelona, Albertville and Lillehammer, was launched by the Swedish Institute of Public Health and the Swedish Medical Association, and was supported by the Swedish Athletics Federation, whereupon the International Athletics Federation declared the 1995 Athletics World Championships a smoke-free event.
In his opening speech, the Chairman of the Swedish Amateur Athletic Association proclaimed that the competition, constituted the very first smoke-free World Championship in Athletics.
As survey showed that the vast majority of the spectators supported the smoke-free event.
SMOKE-FREE OLYMPIC GAMES |
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The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) announced a smoke-free policy for all Olympic venues during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. This policy supports the objectives of the IOC to establish smoking standards at all future Olympic Games which will be consistent with the Olympic ideals of good health and protection of the environment. Each Olympic venue will be configured to comply with ACOG's policy, as well as to those of all appropriate local laws and ordinances.
In addition, the advertising and promotion of tobacco products will be prohibited, including distribution of free samples, coupons and other promotional items. Sponsorship of the Olympic Games by tobacco companies is prohibited and the ACOG will restrict the sale of tobacco products within all venues wherever possible.
The ACOG will work with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Public Health Department, and other appropriate agencies to develop a public information campaign which will explain the smoking policy to visitors and media, as well as to athletes and officials from participating countries.
"Our intention is to ensure that our visitors will be able
to enjoy the 1996 Olympic Games in a smoke-free environment",
said Morris Dillard, ACOG managing Director for Operations