Under the World Health Organization (WHO) scheme, Pyeongchang 2018 have committed to making the first-ever Winter Games in South Korea as smoke-free as possible.

Organisers will also restrict smoking at the Olympic Village and competition venues, while spectators will be protected from second-hand smoke exposure during the Games, which are scheduled to run from February 9 to 25.

The Tobacco Free Sports programme aims to clean sports of all forms of tobacco, including consumption, advertising and promotion in a bid to prevent people all over the world suffering from smoking-related diseases.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) partnered with the Tobacco Free Sports initiative in conjunction with the WHO for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

The last Olympics to be held in South Korea, the 1988 summer edition in capital city Seoul, were also held under the Tobacco Free Sports campaign.

Other sports organisations, such as FIFA, have also staged events under the scheme, such as the 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

“Joining the Tobacco Free initiative, Pyeongchang 2018 will create a cleaner, healthier, and more enjoyable experience for all athletes and spectators during the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” newly-appointed Pyeongchang 2018 President Lee Hee-beom said.

Lee, who took over from former head Cho Yang-ho, has promised to organise a successful edition of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games after he officially started work earlier this month.

He visited all the venue sites before holding a meeting with IOC Coordination Commission chair Gunilla Lindberg.

Lee is confident he can continue to build on the platform set by Cho, who helped oversee a turnaround in fortunes for Pyeongchang 2018 after concerns had been expressed about venue construction and finances.