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Smoke-free world cup – except in Malaysia

A top health award given to World Cup organisers FIFA for making this month’s football tournament tobacco-free has been marred by the efforts of London-based cigarette firm British American Tobacco (BAT) to sidestep the agreement.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) gave its highest tobacco control award – for ‘exceptional courage and vision’ in fighting tobacco – to FIFA for declaring the 2002 World Cup smoke-free.

The agreement signed between WHO and FIFA prohibited tobacco advertising and promotion at World Cup venues and the sale of tobacco products at the games in Japan and Korea. Smoking was also banned in all public areas.

But the achievement was tainted by the sponsorship of TV coverage of the World Cup in Malaysia by BAT as part of its campaign for Dunhill cigarettes. BAT also advertised its television sponsorship in Malaysian newspapers.

Clive Bates, director of the anti-smoking lobby group ASH, condemned the move as ‘absolutely wicked’.

Tobacco advertising is banned in Malaysia, unlike the UK. A government bill to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship here is currently on schedule to become law in October with a timetable for phasing out different forms of advertising by 2006.

The Conservative Party has said it will oppose the bill.

More detail on the ASH website: www.ash.org.uk