Tobaccofree Sports Stadia: European Policies and Guidance

Over 20 million people – including many children and young people - attend professional football matches across Europe each week, with many more attending other professional and amateur sports fixtures. The vast majority of European sports venues take place in semi-enclosed structures with roofed stands, and yet there are still very low levels of smokefree and tobaccofree policies in operation. Building on research findings that only 10 out of UEFA’s 54 European countries have football stadia that operate completely tobaccofree policies, Healthy Stadia has worked with UEFA and World Heart Federation to develop new guidance materials for clubs, multi-purpose stadium operators and governing bodies of sport to assist in the development and enforcement of strong tobacco control policies. This presentation will give a benchmark of current policies in place, support offered through the new guidance materials, and advice on how sports organisations can go beyond national tobacco control legislation to implement tobaccofree policies. Further information will be provided on the launch of a Europe-wide Tobacco-Free Stadia Declaration that will be launched in conjunction with European governing bodies of sport in Autumn 2018. Funding Statement: Part-funded by UEF