It was reported yesterday that organisers of the London Olympics want to ban smoking in all ticketed areas, including those that are outside in the open air.
Whatever the event – archery, rowing, sailing – every venue, every towpath, will be "smoke free".
So too will the London Olympic Park because although most of it is outdoors (it's a park, innit?) that is going to be a "ticketed area" as well. (Yes, they're going to charge us for the privilege of rubbing shoulders with the corporate guests who have tickets for the actual events!!)
The good news? According to the Daily Star, "An Olympics spokesman said it would be impossible to impose the ban on people lining non-ticketed public roads to watch the marathon." I bet they'd like to try, though.
Truth is, the Olympics are being seized upon as a gilt-edged opportunity to experiment with outdoor smoking bans.
Far from being a celebration of a free and open society (with all its faults), we may as well be back in Beijing. At least they know how to put on an opening ceremony!