More than 250 organisations and alliances in support of the campaign

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We call for a smokefree Football World Cup 2006

Prof. Jobst Plog, intendant of the North German Broadcasting Service
“With its programs, the North German Broadcasting Service continuously contributes important awareness work to the dangers of smoking. Last but not least during the week against cancer (ARD Themenwoche Krebs) which the Working Pool of the Broadcasting Corporations of the Federal Republic of Germany initiated, we provided necessary public attention to this important topic. Our partners - among others the German Cancer Society and the German Cancer Aid – played an important role in the success of the week against cancer. That is why I explicitly support the initiative of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC). For smoking and sports do not belong together.”

Prof. Dr. Robert Loddenkemper, President of the European Region of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD)
„Again, Germany puts itself into the service of the tobacco industry. This attitude of Germany is met with great incomprehension by international colleagues and professional societies and is ascribed to the powerful influence of the tobacco industry on several politicians (see: Editorial in the LANCET, April 22, 2006). A further reason for this reluctance is that, psychologically clever, our fascistic past in which governmentally enacted preventive measures led to the outrageous genocide is being brought up against the protection of nonsmokers. Both in press and in advertising, the retention of freedom is hence emphasized continuously (e.g. Marlboro with “freedom”, Gauloise with “liberty”). Our youth is taken by this.

Nothing is more important than providing our youth with positive examples. Sport and a global event like the Soccer World Cup are especially suited to do so. The IUALTD therefore emphatically supports the request for a smokefree World Cup and hopes that the campaign at least helps to convince the German politics of the necessity of a general smoking ban in the restaurant sector. The large majority of the German population approves of this and in many European countries, these regulations have been introduced with great success.”

Dr. Peter Danckert, Member of the Lower House of the German Parliament, Chairman of the Sport committee
“The motto of the Soccer World Cup 2006 in Germany reads ‘The world visits friends’. As hosts, we want to undertake everything possible so that our guests feel good and experience impressive moments during the four weeks in the twelve World Cup cities. These impressions should not be allowed to be clouded by thick wads of smoke. That is why I turned to FIFA president Joseph Blatter already in March and championed for a smokefree Soccer World Cup in Germany. For the danger to health of the toxins which are contained in tobacco smoke are established. Moreover, sport has to lead by example. Due to the proven inefficacy of measures which are based on voluntariness, this can only be warranted by completely smokefree stadiums. On this account, I would have very much wished for a amicable agreement to arrange for a smokefree Soccer World Cup 2006, alike the FIFA World Cup 2002 in Japan/South Korea."

Maria Eichhorn, Member of the Lower House of the German Parliament, Drug commissioner of the Conservatives (CDU/CSU)
"Germany is falling behind more and more regarding the protection of non-smokers, even though in this country no one disputes that smoking is harmful and frequently results in death. In advance of the Football World Cup 2002, a “memorandum of cooperation” was signed jointly by WHO and FIFA. This document states that tobacco and sports do not mix and that tobacco must be must be removed from all football events associated with FIFA.

The organising committee for the Football World Cup 2006 in Germany declared that such a general smoking ban would not be enforceable in Germany. This is extremely annoying and detrimental for sports, and also demonstrates that there is still a lot to do regarding the protection of non-smokers in Germany. While effective legislative regulations for the protection of non-smokers exist in many European countries, not only football stadiums, but also public buildings and restaurants in Germany are “smoking zones”. This must change. We need drastic improvements for non-smokers, not just appeals. Other countries have proved that general smoking bans are most effective."

Dr. Irene Epple-Waigel, former Alpine ski champion, doctor, patron of the German Child Health Foundation
"The magnitude by which passive smoking is endangering the health of millions of children is alarming. Among experts it is agreed unanimously that passive smoking in children equals personal injury. Smoking and passive smoking are global problems and require global action. It is therefore that international sporting events such as the Football World Cup can deliver outstanding messages. If smoking is permitted in the entire stadiums (as is planned with the exception of a few areas in the media centers), the opportunity to place a clear signal against smoking is forgone. As former professional skier, as doctor and mother, I clearly advocate the position: no smoke in the world Cup stadiums.”

Rolf Hüllinghorst, managing director of the German Head Office for Dependency Matters
"The tobacco industry has succeeded: on the occasion of the Football World Cup 2006, smoking is allowed everywhere. More than half of the visitors of football games are bothered by nicotine – apart from the general fact that smoking is unhealthy. The tobacco industry is well aware that less and less people smoke. It disavows this fact and attempts everything to impede this decline. Not football and smoking, but rather sports and health belong together. The reduction of tobacco consumption – this must be our common goal. At the latest with the kick-off of the Football World Cup 2010 it must be manifest – Smoking, good-bye."

Dr. Thomas Ulmer, specialist for internal medicine/sports medicine, German member of the European Parliament, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats
"International sporting events do very well without tobacco. Contrary to the Football world Cup 2002 in Japan and South Korea which was declared smokefree, it is planned for smoking to be permitted virtually unrestricted throughout the stadiums at the Football World Cup in Germany. It is scientifically indisputable that passive smoking profoundly endangers health. Therefore, Germany has an important responsibility and at the same time a great opportunity as the host to the World Cup 2006, which should not be foregone: The host cares about the welfare of the non-smoking guests in the stadiums, smoking therefore should be banned in the stadiums. For it is only thereby that the message that smoking and sports do not belong together can be credibly communicated. As EU-politician, I support every activity for smokefree public policies, and therefore also the campaign for a smokefree World Cup 2006. Germany should follow the world-wide trend towards smokefree, and should set a clear sign against smoking by smokefree public policies, especially for children and youth. I appeal to the Federal Government to act on this – Europe is committed to the complete enforcement of the memorandum of cooperation which was signed between FIFA and WHO before the last World Cup."

Dr. Il Soon Kim, President of the Korean Association of Smoking and Health (KASH)
"As the President of Korean Association of Smoking and Health (KASH) and also a person witnessed the smoke-free policy of the World Cup 2002, Korea/Japan in Seoul. I can definitely say that the smoke free policy was successful and thereafter all the sports events in Korea have been smoke free. At the 2002 World Cup, smoking was not allowed in the stadiums, except a few designated areas. This was in accordance with the memorandum of cooperation between the international football association, FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO). The smoke-free policy at the FIFA World Cup 2002 was an extraordinary success. The policy was popular both among Koreans and Japanese, and among our international visitors, as well as among the players and staff, and there was widespread compliance with the policy. It is a shame that this legacy is not carried on at the World Cup 2006 in Germany, even though the memorandum of cooperation from 2002 explicitly states that tobacco and sports do not mix and that tobacco in any form must be removed from all football events associated with FIFA."

Gerald Asamoah, German National player
“We are world class - the world class is smokefree. That's why wee need smokefree stadiums at the World Cup”

Ebbe Sand, plays for German team Schalke04, former Danish national player
“As a professional football player I do not want to put my health at risk. That is why I support the campaign for a smoke-free world cup. Cigarettes simply do not belong in the stadium - smoke-free stadiums, that’s what the players expect. It is not yet too late for the FIFA and the local organizing committee to reinstate the 'memorandum of cooperation' and to declare the football World Cup 2006 smokefree”

Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK
“Agreements between WHO and FIFA led to the 2002 World Cup being entirely tobacco free - yet now FIFA is reneging on keeping up this formal commitment for the 2006 event. Over 300 million people will watch each match this summer and thousands of spectators, staff and players will be present. But tobacco and football is a seriously misplaced and damaging association. A far cry from enhancing physical and sporting abilities, smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke causes death and serious illness. FIFA has a duty to protect everyone present and to send the clear message that smoking and smoky environments are damaging to health. Tobacco has no place in sports.”

Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schipanski, President of the Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid)
“ Smoking is the largest preventable risk to health. Sports and smoking do not fit together– this is true also for the Soccer World Cup 2006. For us, the World Cup motto “The world visits friends” means: we protect our friends from passive smoking! Just like in Japan/South Korea 2002 and in South Africa 2010, Germany has to give a clear signal against tobacco use. The German Cancer Aid calls for a smokefree World Cup. ”

Dr. Uwe Prümel-Philippsen, Managing Director of Bundesvereinigung für Gesundheit e.V.
“It is incomprehensible why Germany is going to do without a straightforward smoking ban in football stadiums - thus passing on the chance to communicate: the “smokefree football World Cup” is feasible also in Germany – just as it was before in Japan and South Korea in 2002. ”

“Environmental tobacco smoke is without any doubt a health risk. This should be reason enough for smoking bans in public places to protect non-smokers from this preventable health risk. And: such smoking bans are not only necessary in stadiums, but also in schools, hospitals, in the restaurant sector and in all public places. German politics should join in with the European, and worldwide trend, and finally demonstrate the courage to implement clear-cut regulations protecting non-smokers from passive smoking. That’s why the German Federal Association for Health is calling for a smokefree football World Cup.”

Professor Gerhard Sybrecht, Vice-President of the German Lung Foundation
“The German Lung Foundation backs smokefree policies, because they prevent illness and promote health. As research shows unanimously, smokefree policies are extremely popular, in Germany as everywhere else. Both measures clearly go beyond what is planned so far. As the message that tobacco and sports do not mix can only be transported credibly by effec-tively smokefree stadiums, the German Lung Foundation calls for a smokefree World Cup 2006. We are delighted to give our backing to the campaign for a smokefree FIFA world cup 2006. Smokefree sports competitions are the new world standard. That is why the FIFA World Cup, the largest sporting event in the world should be smokefree as well.”

Professor Laurent Nicod, Chair of the European Lung Foundation
“The European Lung Foundation would like to see the memorandum of cooperation by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) from the year 2002 reinstated and the 2006 World Cup to be smokefree, in line with many other international sporting competitions that have been conducted smokefree, such as several Olympic Games, past years' South Asian Games, the 2004 South Pacific Games, this years' Commonwealth Games -- and the FIFA World Cup 2002. Tobacco and sports do not mix. That's why tobacco should be banned also from the FIFA World Cup 2006. The European Lung Foundation would welcome this step by the FIFA in line with its agreement from 2002 to make all events associated with FIFA smokefree.”

Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids
"This campaign is first and foremost about protecting public health. Smoke-free policies protect fans, staff, referees, media and everyone who attends the World Cup from the health dangers of secondhand smoke. A Smoke-free World Cup 2006 would also promote a healthy lifestyle among all sectors of the community, particularly among the millions of young people who attend the event and watch on television around the world. Secondhand smoke isn't just annoying, but a proven cause of lung cancer, heart disease and other serious health hazards. A smoke-free environment is the only way to protect everyone from the 4,000 toxins and 69 carcinogens in secondhand smoke."