Organisers of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games have unveiled plans to impose a 'blanket ban' on smoking in a bid to protect more than 155,000 athletes, representatives and volunteers.

The plans have been welcomed by the World Health Organisation, which will see smoking being prohibited at venues, public areas and restaurants and bars in the Olympic Park Organisers have said that the only areas where smoking will be permitted will be specially-designated points outside the Olympic and Paralympic venues.

Sochi 2014 chief executive and president Dmitry Chernyshenko said: If as a result of this anti-smoking drive we can significantly reduce the number of Russians who smoke, then I will feel that Sochi 2014 will have made yet another vital contribution to bringing about transformative social change in our country."