Photos of athletes stepping off airplanes while wearing face masks won't burnish the image of Beijing that Chinese officials hope to convey. Yet pollution is a very real problem confronting Olympic teams around the world.
To be sure, Athens has high air pollution as well, yet world records fell. But Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Already world-class marathoner Hale Gebrselassie is doubtful that he will compete in the Games because of poor air quality. The world's number one women's tennis player, Justine Henin, has also expressed reservations since she has asthma. Other athletes are altering their training regimes--or are planning to arrive at the last minute and leave immediately after competing. Some teams are trying to void the Olympic rule against asthma inhalers. And coaches are urging their athletes to wear face masks whenever they're outdoors in the city.
Chinese officials promise that air quality won't be a problem. Factories will be shut down during the Games. And the number of cars wll be cut in half. This will be an Olympian feat in itself. The number of vehicles in Beijing is expected to reach 3.3 million by August. The government mandate means that some 1.65 million cars and trucks will be yanked off the roads.
Will it work? Read after the jump.
Skeptics abound. The government's so-called "Blue Sky" program, which restricted traffic in the city on alternating days brought sunny claims about dramatic reductions in air pollutants. But changes in the way data was collected have since shown that improvements were far less rosy.
Sources: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Guardian
