盖茨基金会支持北京“无烟奥运”_时事

盖茨基金会支持北京“无烟奥运”

Gates' foundation aids smoking ban for Games

The retired co-founder of computer giant Microsoft, Bill Gates, has earmarked $130,000 from his foundation to support a "smoke-free Olympics".

"Awareness of the disease burden that smoking causes is not very widespread. I'd say most people in the US know it, but in China, that's not the case," Gates, who co-chairs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said at a press conference in New York City on Wednesday.

The funds from the foundation's latest commitment are expected to go toward advertisements in an anti-smoking campaign.

Beijing has pledged a smoke-free Games, banning smoking from most indoor public spaces, workplaces and spectator areas of open-air stadiums during the Games next month.

The anti-smoking drive is aimed at curbing a habit that reportedly affects more than 350 million people in the country. Medical costs from smoking also impoverish more than 50 million people in China, figures from the World Health Organization have showed.

Similarly, about 1 million people die from smoking-related causes every year, statistics from Ministry of Health have showed.

Gates, who stepped down from Microsoft in June to work full time at the foundation and is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Aug 8, highlighted education as a weapon in the fight against smoking.