the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Qatar, has announced that smoking and marketing of all tobacco products will be banned in stadiums that would be used during world sporting events.
The WHO, in a statement posted on its website and a copy of which was shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, said the steps are part of measures aimed at ensuring the 2022 world soccer gathering serves as a beacon for the health and safety.
He added that the decision is aimed at ensuring that the meeting becomes a launching pad for sharing lessons with future sporting mega-events.
The partnership between the Qatari government and the WHO, which began in October 2021, is said to be supported by FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, as a move to promote global health through through soccer.
Qatari Public Health Minister Hanan Al Kuwari said that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is a unique platform to promote health around the world and communicate that sport and health go hand in hand.
Ms. Al Kuwari said that sport and health are intertwined, and together they play out in a celebration of joy, well-being and solidarity for billions of people around the world.
“Partnership in Sport for Health has two main areas of focus. First, the association is working to help make the 2022 tournament, the first of its kind to take place in the Middle East, healthy and safe. Second, the partnership will capture all that has been learned to share with our partners and organizers of other sporting mega-events to harness the power of sport to help improve global public health and safety,” he said.
He noted that by using the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to promote healthy lifestyles, people around the world can be inspired to play football and other sports.
He said the partners are committed to campaigning to raise awareness of the health benefits of physical activity, as well as promoting the importance of following a healthy lifestyle by adopting healthy food choices during major sporting events.
smoke free stadiums
Ms Al Kuwari noted that at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, smoke-free stadiums and a tobacco marketing ban are among the key protections on offer to protect people from this deadly product.
He said the benefits of these measures will help promote and protect the health of sports fans at future mega sports events.
“Whether you’re engaging in high-intensity training or even just engaging in regular activity, every effort counts toward a healthy body and happy mind. To further promote healthy living, we are underscoring the importance of nutrition by demonstrating the benefits of offering healthy food options at mega sporting events,” she said.
Camaraderie
In his remarks, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the association strives to guide how to help improve the physical and mental health of all people around the world through sport.
Mr Ghebreyesus said this will be done with a focus on physical activity, healthy diets and nutrition, tobacco control, mental health and health security.
“The goals we have set for ourselves are ambitious, so the foundation of our partnership must be solid and based on three key pillars.
“These include health promotion through strategic collaboration with governments and sports stakeholders, reaching billions of people through football and other sports to promote healthy living,” he said.
He said that health security is also important and he prioritizes putting safety and security at the center of all sporting mega-events for the benefit of fans, players and staff.
He noted that public health communications are critical to distilling and amplifying important information to the public to help them make healthy lifestyle choices.
“Finally, keeping sporting events safe through a commitment to health security is a fundamental pillar of the project for a healthy World Cup.
“From ensuring mass gathering protocols are in place outside and inside stadiums, to adhering to control measures to protect people from infectious disease outbreaks at mega sporting events, we are committed to working with partners to ensure all steps are taken. the necessary measures to make sporting mega-events, such as the FIFA World Cup, safe and secure,” he said.