The World No Tobacco Day theme for 2002 was Tobacco Free Sports--Play it Clean! In response to the global appeal for action, WHO and its partners launched a campaign to clean sports of all forms of tobacco — tobacco consumption, and exposure to second-hand smoke, tobacco advertising, promotion and marketing.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), International Olympic Committee (IOC), Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Olympic Aid and other regional and local sports organizations have joined WHO in this campaign for Tobacco Free Sports. Tobacco free events were organized all over the world, including the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games in the US and the 2002 FIFA World Cup in the Republic of Korea and Japan.

Athletes, sports organizations, national and local sports authorities, school and university sports teams, sports media and everyone interested in physical activity are invited to join this campaign for Tobacco Free Sports. WHO urges people everywhere to take back their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations from the preventable death and disease caused by tobacco.