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November 4th, 2009:

The 16th Asian Games To Go Smokeless – Tobacco Banned At 2010 Games

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GUANGZHOU, China – October 28, 2009 – The 16th Asian Games (www.gz2010.cn/en), part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will be “going smokeless” with firm prohibitions on the sale of tobacco products and tobacco sponsorship of the Games.

The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.

Governed by the Olympic Council of Asia, The 16th Asian Games follows all mandates of the International Olympic Committee in which Games’ organizers are prohibited from accepting sponsorship of the Games by tobacco manufactures nor allowing the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products at any athletic venue.

“Preparations of smoking control for The 16th Asian Games are in full swing in the host city of Guangzhou” said Mr. Hu Bingjie, Deputy Director of the Medical Services Department of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) and Mr. Zhao Hong, Director of the Office of the Guangzhou Patriotic Health Campaign Committee (GPHCC).

In accordance with Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games City Action & Games-time Operation Plan issued by the General Office of Guangzhou Municipal Government, the Medical Services Department of GAGOC and the Office of the GPHCC have formulated General Policies on Smoking Control at Venues of The 16th Asian Games and Smoking Control Plan of Guangzhou for the 2010 Asian Games respectively, specifying tasks of Games-time smoking control at venues and across the city, which marks the work of smoking control for the Games has officially kicked off.

Mr. Hu said, “according to General Policies on Smoking Control at Venues of the 16th Asian Games, smoking, sale of tobacco products and tobacco sponsorship and promotion in any form will be prohibited in the following areas:

The indoor area of designated hospitals;

The indoor area of Opening & Closing Ceremonies venues; competition venues and training venues of the Games (excluding designated outdoor smoking areas);

The indoor area of accommodations, reception and staff rest areas and work venues such as offices and conference rooms, as well as restaurants, coffee pubs, pubs, tea houses, cinemas, karaoke bars, dance floors, corridors, lifts and toilets;

The indoor area of non-competition venues such as media centers, card making centers, youth camps and arrival & departure service venues and

Inside of any transportation vehicle operated by Games’ organizers.”

In addition, smoke-free rooms or floors will be set up at The Garden Hotel, the Headquarters Hotel of The 16th Asian Games, as well as all Official Hotels and Designated Hotels of the Games.

Mr. Zhao emphasized Guangzhou’s determination to enforce the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and promote a healthy way of life, adding that “a number of smoke-free government bodies, hospitals, educational institutions, hotels, restaurants and public transport vehicles will be set up across the city.”

Guangzhou’s efforts on smoking controls are aimed at creating a safe, clean and healthy environment for the upcoming Asian Games.

About The 16th Asian Games

The 16th Asian Games (www.gz2010.cn/en) is approved and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia and will be held in “Flower City” of Guangzhou from November 12 – 27, 2010.  More than 14,000 athletes, trainers and coaches from 45 countries and regions will compete in 42 sports. More than 10,000 accredited and non-accredited worldwide media are anticipated to cover the Games with more than three million spectators expected to attend.

Philip Morris In Negotiations With Original E-Cigarette Company. Little is known about the backdoor meetings with little to any media coverage

Selling electronic cigarette is illegal in Hong Kong. (Source: Ming Pao)

Selling electronic cigarette is illegal in Hong Kong. (Source: Ming Pao)

What many e-cigarette users have feared from day one could be in the works:  Philip Morris, the biggest maker of tobacco cigarettes in the United States, has been discovered to be in negotiations with Ruyan Group, which manufactured the original e-cigarette

starting in 2005.  A short news article on Quamnet.com states the seriousness of the matter:

“Ruyan Group said that an agreement between the Company and Philip Morris International Management S.A. could not be reached on matters relating to the co-operation between them on its “electronic cigarettes” by the end of the first and exclusive phase of negotiations.”

As the Food and Drug Administration has recently been given authority over the tobacco industry, the move by Philip Morris could be a carefully calculated move to gain controlling interest over the products inside the United States and abroad.  The motives of the company are unclear at this point, but speculations include everything from wanting to shut the industry down by acquiring the rights to it all the way to possibly launching its own e-cigarette product and taking it mainstream.

Ruyan Group’s stock trading was suspended on November 2nd pending an announcement on a price sensitive matter.  This could be related to a sudden 20% jump in the company’s stock price.

But, that isn’t the first time Ruyan Group’s stock has soared.  Back in June, the stock rose over 35% after the announcement that the Company was negotiating with what Quamnet called an “independent third party”.  Shortly afterward on July 6th, that third party became known to be Philip Morris.

In related news, Ruyan Group also sold their office properties for HK$28.57 million to an undisclosed buyer on October 23rd.

What this could mean for the e-cigarette industry both in the United States and internationally is uncertain, but what’s clear is this: Philip Morris wants in.

Source: HOUSTON, TX, by Tiffany Ellis