China says air clearing for Games despite hazy skies

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 7/25/08 | Lindsay Beck

[NormsRevenge]

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's efforts to clear the skies over its polluted capital are having an effect, officials said on Friday, insisting that Beijing's air would be safe for Olympic athletes despite persistent smog over the city.

Beijing authorities have taken cars off the road and opened new subway lines in the past week, in addition to halting some construction and suspending factory production, in a last-ditch effort to ensure clear skies when the Games open on August 8.

"For the effects of the measures we have taken to be increasingly felt, we will have to make continued efforts," Du Shaozhong, of the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, told a news conference.

--snip--

The city's chronic pollution, a source of respiratory illness, has been one of the biggest worries for Games organizers, ...

Athletes have also expressed concern, with Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie saying he will take part in the 10,000m race, but not the marathon, in Beijing due to worries about air quality, ...

Du conceded that Beijing's air quality on Friday was below par, meeting only level 3 on China's five-point scale air pollution index.

But he said that the overall trend was improving, with a 20 percent reduction in carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter -- all pollutants related to vehicle emissions -- since the same period last year.

According to China's Air Pollution Index, 22 days this month have been "blue-sky days," Du said.

But the index is not internationally recognized, ...

--snip--

"In the last few days there has not been significant rainfall or wind and the weather conditions in the last few days were not conducive to the diffusion of air-borne pollutants," Du said, explaining the yellow-grey haze over Beijing.

But he said it was not necessary for athletes to bring face masks.

--snip--

[NormsRevenge]

The National Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, is seen next to Pangu Plaza (R) amid haze at the Olympic Green in Beijing July 24,2008. REUTERS/Jason Lee

[NormsRevenge]

to be fair, a couple days earlier than above pic.. :-)

AFP - Tuesday, July 22 03:16 am Beijing police march outside
the Olympic Stadium. The capital has gone into fortress mode
for next month's Games

[ZX12R]

Wow, that is something. I can’t wait to see how this whole thing goes off. Should be very interesting.

[Red in Blue PA]

Hope they have really BRIGHT fireworks!

[Centurion2000]

Good God that is some serious smog.

Makes LA look like the top of Everest.

[quark]

True-blue Americans won't watch the crap DNCNBC puts on from Red China, a thug nation that murders its citizens, intimidates its neighbors, and uses a massive trade imbalance to build up its military and send cheap, shoddy, dangerous junk to the U.S. “Sic Semper Communistus!”

[bamahead]

Hope they have really BRIGHT fireworks!

That's one area where the Chinese know their craft well.

[NormsRevenge]

fireworks,, snort! we’re talking the Chinese here after all.. lol

[flaglady47]

“True-blue Americans won’t watch the crap DNCNBC puts on from Red China, a thug nation that murders its citizens, intimidates its neighbors, and uses a massive trade imbalance to build up its military and send cheap, shoddy, dangerous junk to the U.S. “Sic Semper Communistus!”

Yes, but our athletes haven’t created these conditions, either political or environmental. They have no control over what station puts the Olympics on TV. I support our athletes, regardless of the nation that holds the Olympics. They are our cream of the crop and deserve recognition for working their tails off to achieve their goals. So I will watch them perform and cheer them on.

[Teacher317]

China says air clearing for Games despite hazy skies

Pay no attention to how those skies look.... it's really clearer!! LOL

To be honest, any photo taken in Beijing can be made to look MUCH hazier than it really is. Any shot taken at a distance, then zoomed in, will magnify the haze's effect. In several months worth of visiting time within the past 3 years, I never saw Beijing as bad as that first shot... but several of my zoomed photos made it look almost that bad.

[nothingnew]

I don't give a crap about the air over Beijing. Any free country should not be participating in this communist showcase of what will always be the inhumane power the commies hold over their own people. This is a farce as big as the "Nobel Peace Prize".

FMCDH(BITS)

[BenLurkin]

“Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear.”