Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509180064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
The 1996 Olympics will be smoke-free, including a ban not only on smoking but on advertising of tobacco products, officials said Friday.
Smoking will be forbidden at all Olympic venues ``and promotion of tobacco products will be prohibited, including distribution of free samples, coupons and other promotional items,'' the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games said.
The policy, the committee said, is consistent with International Olympic Committee ideals of good health and a clean environment.
``Sponsorship of the Olympic Games by tobacco companies is prohibited, and ACOG will restrict the sale of tobacco products within all venues whenever possible,'' it said.
Dr. John D. Cantwell, ACOG's chief medical officer, described the ban as a ``collaborative effort among a broad cross-section of members of the medical and health-care communities.''
ACOG said it was working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Public Health Department and other agencies to develop an information campaign to explain the no-smoking policy to visitors, athletes and officials from participating countries.
Although restrictions on smoking in public places have become commonplace in the United States, similar rules have met stiff opposition in some countries.
``Our intention is to ensure that our visitors will be able to enjoy the 1996 Olympic Games in a smoke-free environment,'' Morris Dillard, the committee's director for operations, said.
by CNB