Indian anti-smoking lobby hits out at London Olympic organizers

London has failed to do what Beijing carried out so successfully four years ago - make it smoke free. Despite having the largest prevalence of tobacco use in the world, China had set an unprecedented standard by declaring the Beijing Olympics (2008) completely smoke free, including all outdoor venues. The London Olympics Committee, however, has created Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs) within the Olympic Park for smokers.

Indian anti-smoking activists have knocked the door of the London Olympics Organizing Committee urging them to push for a tobacco-free London Olympics, 2012. The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and HRIDAY, recipient of WHO's director general award for tobacco control, have written to the chairman of the organizing committee, Lord Sebastian Coe, saying that with over five lakh people attending the grand event, "we are concerned that such an exception would not only impact the health of the visitors, but would also tarnish the image of the organising committee worldwide."

The activists have cited the example of how even UEFA and EURO Cup, 2012, - held in Poland and Ukraine recently - were entirely tobacco-free, and no DSAs or similar exceptions were allowed within the perimeter of host stadia. The letter sent on Monday strongly urged the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), to roll back its decision of providing DSAs with immediate effect. "We look up to your strong leadership for implementing effective smoke-free laws in the larger interest of the health and well-being of all those attending the London Olympic Games, 2012, and set an example for the world to step up efforts to make all sporting events smoke free," wrote Dr Monika Arora from the PHFI.

 Adding that it is highly disappointing "and a deep matter of concern to learn that the LOCOG has made provisions which allow tobacco use in public and will adversely impact the health of thousands of athletes and spectators congregating for the largest international sporting event, the letter from the Indian anti tobacco lobby said it is imperative that the games inculcate a legacy of upholding the health of humanity. "It is shocking to know that despite England being declared smoke free in 2007 the LOCOG has allowed DSAs within the perimeter of ticketed competition venues and are also present in specified areas of the athletes village, exhibiting specific signage denoted as 'smoking areas'. It is noteworthy to mention here that despite having the largest prevalence of tobacco use in the world; China set a new standard for smoke free environments.

The National Olympic Stadium and other venues displayed smoke free messages on their scoreboards and visitors received text messages thanking them for their support in making the venues smoke free," the letter said. Warning that introducing DSAs would also tarnish the image of the organizing committee worldwide, the activists pointed out that smoking caused almost 8,800 deaths per year among Londoners aged 35 and over between 2007 and 2009.

Tobacco use is responsible for five million, or 12% of all deaths of adults above the age of 30 years globally, each year. The 2002 World Health Report estimated that tobacco was responsible for 1.6 million deaths in the European Region and among the three leading contributors to the disease burden. The estimated average smoking prevalence in the European region is 40% among males, and 18.2% among females.