Athletes safe in Beijing air for up to an hour: IOC - Reuters [View All]

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Athletes safe in Beijing air for up to an hour: IOC
Wed Apr 2, 2008 4:52am EDT

By Nick Mulvenney

BEIJING (Reuters) - International Olympic Committee
scientists have proved that Beijing's air will present
no health risk to athletes competing for up to an hour
at the 2008 Games, IOC chief inspector Hein Verbruggen
said on Wednesday.

Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world
and despite a 120 billion yuan ($17.12 billion) clean-up
over the last decade, pollution remains a concern for
many athletes coming to the Olympics, already a
lightning rod for rights protests worldwide.

Verbruggen, chairman of the IOC coordination commission,
said there was a small risk for athletes in longer events
on the worst-polluted days but the IOC had plans to
reschedule events should the worst occur.

"The Chinese together with our medical commission have
done an excellent job," the Dutchman told Reuters on
the sidelines of the final inspection of preparations for
the August 8-24 Games.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSPEK8843220080402