UEFA Bans Tobacco for Euro 2012
UEFA have banned the use, sale or promotion of tobacco — in any shape or form — in all stadia involved in Euro 2012 Poland/Ukraine.
According to Soccerex.com, the policy was developed and is to be enforced in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), World Heart Federation, European Healthy Stadia Network, and other local groups.
“A tobacco-free Euro 2012 is about respecting the health of our spectators and everyone else involved in the tournament.
“We uphold the highest standards of health, safety and comfort at our flagship tournament, and tobacco does not fit within them,” said UEFA president Michel Platini.
The European Commissioner in charge of sport — Androulla Vassiliou — added,“Euro 2012 will be a magnet for millions of spectators and fans, so this sends a powerful message.
“In addition, a tobacco-free Euro 2012 sets the standard for other sporting events across the continent. Football and sport are about health and performance, and tobacco is about the opposite: they just don’t mix,” she concluded.
Now this may seem like an obvious move to some, but the tobacco ban for Euro 2012 is a much bigger deal than one might think.
Why?
Because everyone smokes in Europe. Well, scratch that. A lot of people smoke in Europe.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, under 20% of adult Americans smoke cigarettes.
If we included all the other substances that Americans smoked I’m sure that percentage would be a whole lot higher. Pun intended.
In contrast, 34% of Germans smoke tobacco, while in France and the United Kingdom, 27% of the adults smoke.
That pretty much sums it up.
Take a moment to put your hands together for UEFA’s decision. After all, they did it because they care. Right?
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