9 November 2007
The Chief Executive of ASH Scotland Maureen Moore OBE on Friday congratulated Glasgow for winning the bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and said it was a perfect opportunity for the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council to further promote healthy living messages. Speaking after the winning bid to host the Games was announced in Sri Lanka, Mrs Moore said:
“The Commonwealth Games, often known as ‘The Friendly Games’, celebrate sport and fitness and I am absolutely delighted that our biggest city has the chance to showcase itself and our country to the world.
"Hosting the Games provides the perfect opportunity for Glasgow to further promote healthy living messages and is also a chance for Glasgow to inspire all its people, but especially the young, to take up sport and fitness and to increase smoking prevention and education messages such as not starting to smoke or giving up.
“I also hope Glasgow will look to achieve the Commonwealth Games’ aim to be smoke-free by following the example of previous hosts. The 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne were the first ever fully smoke-free Games not allowing smoking in Games venues or the Games Village, accommodation or training facilities, or vehicles transporting officials and athletes. In addition, no tobacco products were sold, advertised or promoted within any Games venues. The State of Victoria wanted to not only promote the Games aim of being smoke-free, they also wanted to reduced the exposure of visitors to the games to second-hand smoke and promote the benefits of a smoke-free and healthy lifestyle to everyone living in the state. This is the message Glasgow should be sending to Scotland and to the world.”
The New Delhi government which will host the next Commonwealth Games in 2010 is taking steps to make the capital smoke-free by 2009 alongside an education campaign about the harmful effects of smoking, including second-hand smoke. In addition the city is making tobacco cessation services available in selected hospitals.
ENDS
For further information please contact Jeanette Campbell, 0131 220 9466.
Notes to Editors:
1. ASH Scotland is the leading voluntary organisation campaigning for effective tobacco control measures.
2. ASH Scotland has backed Glasgow’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games.