Beijing Air Quality

(Beijing, China) According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission Chief Arne Ljungqvist, air quality in Beijing will pose no major problems for athletes and visitors during the Olympic Games. Factories have been shut down and cars removed from the streets.



Midday in Beijing - 8/4/08
From another source, Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, remarked,

"I believe these Olympics will change the country, and will also change the perception of the world towards this country", without providing any more explanation.

Meanwhile, today a blanket of smog covered Beijing again (in the photo), and on pollution he responded that "our medical commission has indicated that there is no health problem for every event lasting under an hour and taking place at indoor arenas", while the long distance competitions like the marathon or bicycle races could be moved.

Therefore, those Olympic competitions held indoors and lasting less than an hour are safe.

Air quality data are collected hourly and analyzed using the World Health Organization interim standard for air quality in developing nations. If air quality is determined to be bad, events lasting more than one hour will be rescheduled.

Also: The Jawa Report