Beijing considers smoking ban at Olympic venues

BEIJING: Beijing city is considering a ban on smoking in public areas, including the venues for the next year's Olympic Games, the state media reported on Monday.

According to a draft regulation on tobacco-free Games by the Beijing municipal government, smoking would be prohibited at eight Olympic areas such as venues, hotels, restaurants, public transport and the Olympic Village.

Offenders face a fine of $1.3, the 'Beijing Daily' said.

But special smoking areas can be created in those places, the paper said.

The concept of a 'non-smoking' Olympic Games, initiated in 1988, was put into practice in Barcelona in 1992.

But it remains to be an arduous task for Beijing. It is estimated that 350 million people, about 26 per cent of the country's population and a third of the world's smoking population, are hooked on nicotine.

China reports about one million deaths from smoking-related diseases each year and the figure is expected to triple by 2050.