Brussels, 04/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has decided to join up with the European Commission to encourage a smoke-free EURO 2012 football championship, where cigarette smoking will be banned at EURO 2012, the world's third biggest sports event. UEFA's decision has been warmly welcomed by the European Commission, which is carrying out a series of campaigns to reduce the number of cigarette smokers, like its campaign “Ex-Smokers Are Unstoppable”, (see EUROPE 10400). EU Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli said UEFA's important decision would have a positive impact on the anti-smoking campaign in Europe. A smoke-free EURO 2012 will set a trend for sports events throughout Europe and could help millions of people give up smoking, he said. UEFA president Michel Platini said that organising a smoke-free EURO 2012 was a way of respecting the health of spectators and everyone involved in the championship. Banning the sale or use of any tobacco products in football stadiums for EURO 2012, UEFA has made it clear that it is firmly committed to using football to promote healthy lifestyles, said Platini.
The European campaign, “Ex-Smokers Are Unstoppable” has received mass support, with more than a million signatures thus far on its social networking websites and more than 160,000 people asking to join the iCoach service. (IL/transl.fl)