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IOC: Beijing Air Risky for Athletes

Competitors in endurance events

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 17, 2008 6:51 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The air quality in Beijing poses a “possible risk” to athletes in endurance events, the International Olympic Committee announced today. After analyzing data collected in Beijing in August, the IOC’s medical commission concluded that most competitors won't be affected by the smog, but it will monitor air quality throughout the Games and reschedule events if the pollution is too dangerous, the Washington Post reports.

The focus is on events that involve at least an hour of continuous physical exertion, including the marathon, triathlon, race walking, urban road cycling, mountain biking and marathon swimming, the Post reports. China has said it would close factories and highways around the time of the games to keep pollution down.

A migrant worker walks past the under construction leaning tower of the new China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters building shrouded with air pollution in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 12, 2008.
A migrant worker walks past the under construction leaning tower of the new China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters building shrouded with air pollution in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 12, 2008....   (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Chairs and a table are placed at the construction site of a venue for the 2008 Olympic Games, as the city is covered with smog and pollution, Thursday Jan. 10, 2008, in Beijing.
Chairs and a table are placed at the construction site of a venue for the 2008 Olympic Games, as the city is covered with smog and pollution, Thursday Jan. 10, 2008, in Beijing.   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Chinese workers labor at a construction site of a venue for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, as the city is covered with smog and pollution, Thursday Jan. 10, 2008, in Beijing.
Chinese workers labor at a construction site of a venue for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, as the city is covered with smog and pollution, Thursday Jan. 10, 2008, in Beijing.   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
A Chinese worker walks through a construction site of a venue for the 2008 Olympic Games, as the city is covered with smog and pollution, Thursday Jan. 10, 2008, in Beijing.
A Chinese worker walks through a construction site of a venue for the 2008 Olympic Games, as the city is covered with smog and pollution, Thursday Jan. 10, 2008, in Beijing.   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Chinese construction worker work at the site of the iconic National Stadium nicknamed as Bird Nest, for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games covered with smog, in Beijing, China, Wednesday Nov. 28, 2007.
Chinese construction worker work at the site of the iconic National Stadium nicknamed as "Bird Nest", for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games covered with smog, in Beijing, China, Wednesday Nov. 28, 2007.   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
A Chinese worker pedals a bicycle next to the iconic National Stadium nicknamed as Bird Nest under construction for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games covered with smog in Beijing Monday, Nov. 12, 2007.
A Chinese worker pedals a bicycle next to the iconic National Stadium nicknamed as "Bird Nest" under construction for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games covered with smog in Beijing Monday, Nov. 12, 2007....   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Two journalists filming the iconic National Stadium nicknamed as Bird Nest under construction for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games covered with smog in Beijing, China, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007.
Two journalists filming the iconic National Stadium nicknamed as "Bird Nest" under construction for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games covered with smog in Beijing, China, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007.   (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
A cyclist and a bus pass by the high rise buildings shrouded in a haze of smog, in Beijing, Monday, Sept. 17, 2007.
A cyclist and a bus pass by the high rise buildings shrouded in a haze of smog, in Beijing, Monday, Sept. 17, 2007.   (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
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