Vancouver's mayor, Gregor Robertson, wants to welcome the world and show that Vancouver is indeed a cosmopolitan city without being too prescriptive with regulations.

In a city that prides itself on healthy living, Mayor Gregor Robertson recognised that Vancouver could not impose its strict anti-smoking culture on legions of visitors to the Games that open on Friday (Feb 12-28).
The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) wanted to ban smoking to reflect a very strong commitment to a healthy environment for spectators, athletes and officials. While there will be no smoking inside indoor sports venues, VANOC was told by the International Olympic Committee that it must designate smoking areas outside the arenas. At the outdoor venues, the organisers are encouraging everyone to be respectful of the people around them if they choose to smoke.
Smoking is banned in Vancouver's bars and restaurants and patrons who want to light up have to go outside and smoke several metres away from entry doors. The same rules apply to the mountain resort of Whistler, which is hosting the Alpine skiing competitions.
While the city is no haven for cigarette smokers, it is known to be one of the more tolerant places for smokers of marijuana, which is legal for those possessing a government card allowing it for medicinal purposes. (pi)