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Sports Initiative Overview
Introduction
The popularity of youth sports in the United States continues to explode. That
is why sports activities are great ways to reach our nation’s young people
with information about how to make important health decisions related to tobacco
use, physical activity, and good nutrition.
If current youth tobacco use trends continue, 5 million of today’s young people will die of tobacco-related diseases. Nearly
all first-time use of tobacco occurs before high school graduation, which
suggests that if kept tobacco-free, most youth will never start using tobacco.
Many high-profile athletes and coaches have joined the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's (CDC) tobacco-free sports movement. CDC is proud to
have on its winning team such stars as Sammy Sosa, Jackie Chan, international
skateboarder, Tony Hawk, as well as olympic gold medallists and world record
holders Stacy Dragila (pole vault) and Picabo Street (alpine
skiing).
Movement
Is
Gaining
Momentum
Agencies and organizations that support the tobacco-free sports movement
include
the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health
Organization (WHO), National Cancer Institute, National Clearinghouse for
Alcohol and Drug Information, National SAFE KIDS Campaign, International Olympic
Committee, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and many
other sports leagues and youth organizations.
Because
of
this
strong
support,
the
tobacco-free
sports
movement
is
gaining
momentum
in
many
different
sports
arenas
- The SmokeFree Soccer program recently went global when CDC teamed up with
WHO and FIFA to promote worldwide, tobacco-free messages. Women and men soccer
stars from the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, and Canada have
appeared in posters to show their support for the program.
-
A Smoke-Free Soccer initiative has been launched by the South African Football
Association (SAFA) and World Health Organization (WHO). SAFA is using soccer as
a platform to promote a healthy lifestyle among its players and the public. The
South African Ministry of Health now has a mission to make all sports in their
country tobacco-free.
-
CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) are worked towards a tobacco-free 2002
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Korea and
Japan, which took place on World No-Tobacco Day, May 31, 2002. The theme
for World No-Tobacco Day is “Tobacco-Free Sports.”
-
All venues and participants in the Sydney Olympic Games (2000) were smoke-free,
and messages about tobacco-free and healthy lifestyles were promoted throughout
the event.
-
The 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City was
tobacco-free and promoted healthy lifestyle messages targeting young people.
CDC welcomes
your
participation
in the effort to
promote
sports
participation
as
a
healthy
and
positive
alternative
to
tobacco
use.
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