CHINA: OLYMPIC GAMES: China denies munipulating pollution data, vowing to ensure air quality for Olympics

Record ID: 216790

  • Title: CHINA: OLYMPIC GAMES: China denies munipulating pollution data, vowing to ensure air quality for Olympics
  • Date: 28th February 2008
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (FEBRUARY 27, 2008) (REUTERS) THREE PEOPLE SITTING AT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM JOURNALISTS WITH CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin), DU SHAOZHONG, SPOKESMAN FOR BEIJING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BUREAU, SAYING: "It is simply not possible to take the air quality information from a specific place where the air pollution is worse and swap it with those with a better envi
  • Embargoed: 14th March 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAE3CLI4OCZ6YWXDKJONPRWS4NU
  • Story Text: Beijing, under pressure to reassure athletes coming to the city for August's Olympics, on Wednesday (February 27) denied media reports that it had moved the monitoring stations to less polluted areas to showcase a better result.
    The Chinese capital, struggling to control air pollution before the Olympic Games later this year, said the city's air quality is the best in many years after 10 years' cleaning efforts from the government.
    Beijing's notorious pollution is a major concern for athletes and organisers of the Games that open on Aug. 8.
    A report in the Wall Street Journal said last month the Beijing authorities had closed three monitoring stations in the centre of the city and opened two more in less-polluted areas, thus bringing down the average pollution levels recorded.
    Beijing environmental watchdog said that accusation was nothing but a misunderstanding.
    "It is simply not possible to take the air quality information from a specific place where the air pollution is worse and swap it with those with a better environment. To think that we are using this method is in fact a misunderstanding, and a misinterpretation," said Du Shaozhong, spokesman from the city's environment protection bureau.
    Air quality has seen continuous improvement as the intensity of major pollutants such as SO2, CO and inhalant particles in the air has been reduced by up to 60 percent in 2007, as compared to 1998, Du said.
    Beijing is also working closely with surrounding provinces and cities to cut industrial pollution and eliminate high emission vehicles in order to ensure good air quality for the games, according to the environmental authorities.
    "Before and during the Olympics, Beijing and its surrounding areas will also adopt more intensified measures to maintain the qualified air standard. According to scientists and researches, we are very confident that we will fulfil our promises for the Olympic environment, and reach the environment standard approved by international authorities and also WHO,"
    said the spokesman.
    The annual average intensity of SO2, CO and NO2 has reached the national standards, and the city has seen a record number of "blue skies".
    But Beijing's standard for a "blue sky day" has not been widely recognised by international scientists, and the air can appear smoggy even when officially it is a "blue sky day".
    Beijing has poured 120 billion yuan into clearing the smog for the Games which many of its leaders see as a coming-out party to mark China's rise as a major world power. Officials say that they plan to keep half of Beijing's 3 million cars off the roads during the Games.
    Olympic chief Jacques Rogge has said some events may have to be rescheduled if Beijing's air quality is not good enough.
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