Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) presents awards to key people and/or organizations that have made valuable contributions to tobacco control and have helped make World No Tobacco Day and its theme a great success. These awards are an expression of WHO's appreciation of the great time and effort that these contributors have invested in the campaigns, as well as in fighting tobacco.

This year, two World No Tobacco Day awards were presented to:

Mr Mahmoud El-Khatib, former footballer, Egypt

Mr Imran Khan, former cricketer, Pakistan

These individuals are strong tobacco control advocates and have actively contributed to various tobacco control-related activities at national level, particularly in the area of tobacco-free sporting events, games and teams.