Olympic Games events to be delayed if pollution rises

PORT OF SPAIN – Beijing’s air quality is “better than we have feared” but the International Olympic Committee is prepared to postpone some long-duration events if pollution levels rise, IOC President Jacques Rogge said on Monday.

“We have been reassured by recent findings, we have analyzed different pollutants in Beijing, we have looked at these analysis of the last year and the recent analysis and the situation is better than we have feared,” Rogge told Reuters during a visit to Trinidad. “This is not to say there could not be problems here and there,” he said.Rogge said certain outdoor events lasting more than one hour could be PORT OF SPAIN – Beijing’s air quality is “better than we have feared” but the International Olympic Committee is prepared to postpone some long-duration events if pollution levels rise, IOC President Jacques Rogge said on Monday.”We have been reassured by recent findings, we have analyzed different pollutants in Beijing, we have looked at these analysis of the last year and the recent analysis and the situation is better than we have feared,” Rogge told Reuters during a visit to Trinidad.”This is not to say there could not be problems here and there,” he said.Rogge said certain outdoor events lasting more than one hour could be when there was too much wind or too much snow.Pollution concerns intensified when marathon world recordholder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia withdrew from the marathon at the Beijing Olympics because he feared the city’s polluted air was a threat to his health.He suffers from exerciseinduced asthma.”I can only say to the athletes that their health is not in danger.I am saying they can compete in Beijing without any problems,” Rogge said.”For those athletes with particular permanent conditions such as asthma, it would be up to the teams to decide whether they want to let them compete or not.”Nampa-Reuters”This is not to say there could not be problems here and there,” he said.Rogge said certain outdoor events lasting more than one hour could be PORT OF SPAIN – Beijing’s air quality is “better than we have feared” but the International Olympic Committee is prepared to postpone some long-duration events if pollution levels rise, IOC President Jacques Rogge said on Monday.”We have been reassured by recent findings, we have analyzed different pollutants in Beijing, we have looked at these analysis of the last year and the recent analysis and the situation is better than we have feared,” Rogge told Reuters during a visit to Trinidad.”This is not to say there could not be problems here and there,” he said.Rogge said certain outdoor events lasting more than one hour could be when there was too much wind or too much snow.Pollution concerns intensified when marathon world recordholder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia withdrew from the marathon at the Beijing Olympics because he feared the city’s polluted air was a threat to his health.He suffers from exerciseinduced asthma.”I can only say to the athletes that their health is not in danger.I am saying they can compete in Beijing without any problems,” Rogge said.”For those athletes with particular permanent conditions such as asthma, it would be up to the teams to decide whether they want to let them compete or not.”Nampa-Reuters