[InTheGloaming]

I've just come back from my first trip to Roland Garros. It was great, BUT...!

I couldn't believe it, we were sitting watching the first match of the day - Jancovic V Williams and I smelled something burning. I turned to my friend and said 'what's that'? We looked around and people were actually smoking cigarettes and cigars in the stand while the players were playing! I was flabbergasted! People can't smoke like that at Wimbledon or any other tournament I've been to. It's crazy!

It was really disgusting - here we were trying to enjoy the matches in sporadic sunshine and we were surrounded by other people smoking and blowing their smoke over us and tossing their cigarette ends on the floor.

Mind you, I have to say that Paris was filthy. The streets are really dirty and everywhere stinks of smoke and other strange smells - including our hotel! When we got back home we really noticed the difference.

But I still think that smoking should be banned in sporting stands - I actually thought it already was!

Has anyone been to any other tournament where people smoke cigarettes in the stands?

 

[lolas]

yeah I smoked in Berlin in 2005 but it was in the last row of the stadium and nobody was bothered by it anyway (200 spectators being present)

 

[A'DAM]

In Rabat/Casablanca/Fes (all Morocco) tournaments smoking is allowed...

 

[Fidello]

I love France and this France/RG crowd/French bashing is getting ridiculous.

 

[gentle]

I assumed that smoking was banned at sporting events! It doesn't surprise me that they can in Paris tho! I am a smoker, and I wouldn't like to be surrouded by smoke in a sports stadium! but on the street or whatever with plenty of room and air, I think it is a matter of personal responsibility rather than obediance to a nanny state! I believ the french don't like being 'controlled' good for them!

 

[Agape]

I've just come back from my first trip to Roland Garros. It was great, BUT...!

I couldn't believe it, we were sitting watching the first match of the day - Jancovic V Williams and I smelled something burning. I turned to my friend and said 'what's that'? We looked around and people were actually smoking cigarettes and cigars in the stand while the players were playing! I was flabbergasted! People can't smoke like that at Wimbledon or any other tournament I've been to. It's crazy!

It was really disgusting - here we were trying to enjoy the matches in sporadic sunshine and we were surrounded by other people smoking and blowing their smoke over us and tossing their cigarette ends on the floor.

Mind you, I have to say that Paris was filthy. The streets are really dirty and everywhere stinks of smoke and other strange smells - including our hotel! When we got back home we really noticed the difference.

But I still think that smoking should be banned in sporting stands - I actually thought it already was!

Has anyone been to any other tournament where people smoke cigarettes in the stands?

yeah lol i was gonna post this but i completely forgot..i was dumbfounded too....especially and such a massive sporting event...imagine someone smoking at wimbledon!!!

 

[MikeJones]

Im surprised Jankovic didnt have a smoke during Bartoli's injury break

 

["Sluggy"]

sorry to hear about your bad experience - i never smoke in the stands.

 

[tobe]

Im surprised Jankovic didnt have a smoke during Bartoli's injury break

:lol: Good one!!!
Btw: Paris is awesome...I don't know what kind of area u lived in....

 

[Yasmine]

:scratch: actually I went to RG a couple of times now and never saw anyone smoke :shrug: nor in the stands nor in the alleys. unless you had VIP tickets and in those boxes people just allow themselves pretty much everything.

And a smoking ban has come into place recently so that surely wasn't allowed.

 

[Dexter]

I can't believe smoking is allowed in the stands...

I remember last year on ES they showed Richard Williams smoking during Venus' match. :lol: I think it was in Rome.

 

[Hant11]

I've just come back from my first trip to Roland Garros. It was great, BUT...!

I couldn't believe it, we were sitting watching the first match of the day - Jancovic V Williams and I smelled something burning. I turned to my friend and said 'what's that'? We looked around and people were actually smoking cigarettes and cigars in the stand while the players were playing! I was flabbergasted! People can't smoke like that at Wimbledon or any other tournament I've been to. It's crazy!

It was really disgusting - here we were trying to enjoy the matches in sporadic sunshine and we were surrounded by other people smoking and blowing their smoke over us and tossing their cigarette ends on the floor.

Mind you, I have to say that Paris was filthy. The streets are really dirty and everywhere stinks of smoke and other strange smells - including our hotel! When we got back home we really noticed the difference.

But I still think that smoking should be banned in sporting stands - I actually thought it already was!

Has anyone been to any other tournament where people smoke cigarettes in the stands?

what was your hotel ?

 

[Suckmila.]

Im surprised Jankovic didnt have a smoke during Bartoli's injury break

:spit:

 

[*JR*]

Hoffy set a bad example for the fans, IC. :devil:

 

[Lady]

:scratch: actually I went to RG a couple of times now and never saw anyone smoke :shrug: nor in the stands nor in the alleys. unless you had VIP tickets and in those boxes people just allow themselves pretty much everything.

And a smoking ban has come into place recently so that surely wasn't allowed.

You're so right about VIPs. In Berlin they were sitting in the front row, and they actually were going around with cup of coffee while players were playing a point infront of them. It was shocking.


And yep, people were smoking in the stands of German Open this year.

 

[Andy.]

That is gross

 

[ezekiel]

that's inappropriate

 

[Kunal]

I've just come back from my first trip to Roland Garros. It was great, BUT...!

I couldn't believe it, we were sitting watching the first match of the day - Jancovic V Williams and I smelled something burning. I turned to my friend and said 'what's that'? We looked around and people were actually smoking cigarettes and cigars in the stand while the players were playing! I was flabbergasted! People can't smoke like that at Wimbledon or any other tournament I've been to. It's crazy!

It was really disgusting - here we were trying to enjoy the matches in sporadic sunshine and we were surrounded by other people smoking and blowing their smoke over us and tossing their cigarette ends on the floor.

Mind you, I have to say that Paris was filthy. The streets are really dirty and everywhere stinks of smoke and other strange smells - including our hotel! When we got back home we really noticed the difference.

But I still think that smoking should be banned in sporting stands - I actually thought it already was!



Has anyone been to any other tournament where people smoke cigarettes in the stands?

i agree completely....it takes out from the enjoyment

 

[InTheGloaming]

what was your hotel ?

It was the Hotel Westminster - Rue De La Paix. The whole hotel and our room smelled of old cigars and ciggies!

I loved Paris because of the lovely buildings but couldn't help noticing that it was dirty and not a lot of money has been spent on public places. Pigalle was so run down. The city would be gorgeous if some money was spent on it. Even the metro looked down at heal and my friend said it used to be the best in the world.

Another reason I did enjoy Paris was that the people were actually very friendly - maybe because I spoke in French first. They were very chatty and helpful. My friend said that everyone was much LESS friendlier when they went several years ago. Possibly because younger people have now gotten over past differences?

My friend thinks that the Euro and the socialist Govt have had an adverse affect on Paris, but he could be wrong! We had 2 cups of coffee and 1 Perrier at Cafe De La Paix and it came to 26 Euros!! A 2 course meal at Hippopotamus (a chain restaurant) came to 70 Euros and we only drank water because I don't drink alcohol! PizzaPino on Boulevard Italiens was lovely but also very expensive for a pizza and salad! But something is wrong because parts of Paris are graffiti strewn and need a clean up.

Thanks for the bad rep, but what happened in the stands is completely true and I was simply amazed. I think I had a right to report what happened, and I mean no offence to Parisiens, but smoking in the stands of a SPORTS event just seems daft to me!

 

[InTheGloaming]

I assumed that smoking was banned at sporting events! It doesn't surprise me that they can in Paris tho! I am a smoker, and I wouldn't like to be surrouded by smoke in a sports stadium! but on the street or whatever with plenty of room and air, I think it is a matter of personal responsibility rather than obediance to a nanny state! I believ the french don't like being 'controlled' good for them!

It's not a nanny state when people affect the health of others. Smoke in your own home and out you and your family at risk, but in a public SPORTING arena? As I said before it just seems daft. Why should I have smoke puffed all over me? I wouldn't force a burger in your gob would I?:lol: