Health ministry bans smoking at all venues of world youth soccer

The Ministry of Health has banned smoking at all venues of the World Youth Championship scheduled to take place here.

The ministry said yesterday the move is under a decision of the UAE Higher Organising Committee (HOC) of the World Youth Championship.

The decision of the HOC, chaired by Sheikh Sayyid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was welcomed by the International Football Federation (FIFA).

"The WHO has praised the decision which has regional and international relevance. It is part of the UAE campaign to have all sports events free of tobacco by 2005," said Nasser Al Budoor, Assistant Undersecretary for International Relations and Health Affairs, and a HOC member.

Speaking at a press conference, he said the Ministry of Health and FIFA have decided on an anti-tobacco campaign, which will go along with the championship.

"The policy is created to protect players, spectators, staff, media and other visitors from the harmful effects of tobacco and exposure to tobacco consumption, advertising, marketing and promotion during the championship events."

The policy will prohibit advertising, promotion and selling of tobacco items at all the championship venues. Smoking will be permitted only in restricted areas. Visible and internationally recognisable anti-tobacco signage will be placed in all stadia, championship related venues and headquarters.

It includes distributing educational materials to the public to emphasise the role of tobacco-free sports for a healthier life.

Al Budoor said since smoking is fading in the West and people are now more conscious of its damage, the tobacco industry has become aggressive in the developing countries and in the Middle East.

He said the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Youth and the General Authority for Sports and Youth are trying to cooperate to counteract the tobacco industry's policies, which is also targeting the sports world as a framework to convey their advertising messages to the youth.

Bassam Abu Saab, Deputy Director for Technical Affairs at the Central Health Education Department, said 14.3 per cent of UAE male students and 2.9 per cent of female students are smokers and most of them start when they are less than 10-years-old.

According to a local survey, in the UAE 80 per cent of children are exposed to tobacco advertising, 30 per cent of children have smokers in their families, and 70 per cent are exposed to secondary tobacco smoke.

In addition 30 per cent wear or hold tobacco logos and 30 per cent have been offered free cigarettes at least once.

Abu Saab said statistics about smoking children worldwide are also alarming. About 90,000 children start smoking every day across the world and about five million people die yearly from smoking-related diseases.