Olympic host city Beijing was shrouded in haze today, 11 days before the Games begin, raising anxieties about whether it can deliver the clean skies promised for the world's top athletes.
The city's chronic pollution, a sometimes acrid mix of construction dust, vehicle exhaust and factory and power plant fumes, has been one of the biggest worries for Games organisers.
Beijing has ordered many of its 3.3 million cars off roads and halted much construction and factory production in an effort to cut pollution before the Games open on August 8th.
But a sultry haze persisted today, and state media said Beijing might be forced to restrict more cars and shut more factories if the pollution persists.
City officials had earlier said the haze was due to humid weather, not pollution. But state media today suggested Games organisers were also worried and considering more pollution cuts.
"More vehicles could go off the roads and all construction sites and some more factories in Beijing and its neighbouring areas could be closed temporarily if the capital's air quality deteriorates during the Olympic Games," the China Daily said.
Xinhua said air quality in Beijing today was Grade II, making it officially a "blue sky day" despite the grey haze, with the main pollutant being particulate matter.
Many athletes have delayed arriving in Beijing until the last minute to avoid bad air and the International Olympic Committee said it may reschedule endurance events to prevent health risks to athletes if pollution is bad.
Marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie has already pulled out of the marathon over fears of damaging his health.
The Australian Olympic Committee today ts athletes would be allowed to withdraw if pollution poses a threat. "For us the athlete's attitude to the event is paramount," AOC vice president Peter Montgomery told reporters.
For four days up to today Beijing had not experienced a "blue sky day", when the pollution index meets the nationa standard for "good air quality." Hong Kong, host of the equestrian events, was also badly polluted after a week of clear, blustery weather.
A Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau official, Li Xin, told the Chinese-language Science and Technology Daily the emergency pollution plan is likely to come out this week. Li said proposed stricter controls on vehicles and factories also covered Hebei province and the port city of Tianjin, both next to Beijing.
REUTERS