NOVEMBER 22, 2001

FIA and WHO to launch anti-tobacco initiative

THE FIA and the World Health Organisation will today launch a campaign called "Tobacco Free Sports". The new initiative will be announced during the third session of the intergovernmental negotiations on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Representatives of 191 governments will attend the meeting to negotiate an international treaty on tobacco control. The launch will also include representatives from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

The FIA's policy agreed last year is that the FIA will impose a worldwide ban on all tobacco sponsorships from the end of 2006 once the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is instituted. The 2006 date was chosen as this was the original date which the European Union set for tobacco sponsorship. That directive was thrown out on a legal technicality but the FIA is keen to be seen as one of the crusading federations despite the fact that the sport enjoys more tobacco backing than any other.