CHINA: IOC President Jacques Rogge says Beijing has full capacity to combat pollution

Record ID: 329582

  • Title: CHINA: IOC President Jacques Rogge says Beijing has full capacity to combat pollution
  • Date: 4th August 2008
  • Summary: FAMILY TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS IN FRONT OF MAO PORTRAIT DIGITAL CAMERA SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH TOURIST PASCAL ZEELEN STANDING WITH WIFE MARJO, SAYING: "Well, we just have to adjust the programme a little bit, and not do too much in one day. We start early, and then when it's twelve o'clock, one o'clock we go back to our rooms. Take it easy a little bit." BOY SITTING IN PRAM CHINESE FAMILY, WOMAN HOLDING A YOUNG CHILD MAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPH MAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPH OF FAMILY IN FRONT OF OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN CLOCK
  • Embargoed: 19th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAC3D7B26ZBV329VE68B1VF4AIT
  • Story Text: Despite hazy skies over Beijing and a police station attack in northwestern China just four days before the start of the Olympic Games, IOC President Jacques Rogge says he is confident that Beijing has all the measures necessary to combat pollution and provide security ahead of the Olympics.
    The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, said on Monday (August 4) he was confident Beijing had the necessary measures to improve air quality despite the hazy skies just four days ahead of the start of the Olympic Games.

    "We have very comprehensive plans together with BOCOG to handle all these issues," he said.
    The Chinese authorities have ordered many cars off roads and halted much construction and factory production in an effort to cut smog before the Games open on August 8.
    Pollution has been one of the biggest worries for Games organisers who have said they may reschedule endurance events to prevent health risks to athletes.
    On Monday, Police in China's restive far northwestern region of Xinjiang came under attack in the morning, with 16 officers killed and 16 wounded, state media reported.
    Rogge also expressed confidence in Beijing's ability to provide security.

    "The authorities are taking all necessary measures and we are very confident in their capacities," Rogge said.
    The brief Xinhua report did not describe the attackers, but Xinjiang has been at the heart of China's security fears leading up the Olympics.
    With just four days to go before the opening ceremony of the Summer Games, Beijing is expecting between 400, 000 and 500,000 foreign tourists during the event.
    Tiananmen Square in the heart of the city was buzzing early on Monday as visitors examined large Olympic-themed flower arrangements and photographed themselves in front of the famous portrait of Mao Zedong, China's late communist leader.
    Many visitors also took photos of the countdown clock, which showed just four days to the opening of the Olympic Games.
    Twenty-four year old economics student Matthew Gilarmo from the University of Georgia State, Atlanta said it is a privilege for him to be there.

    "It's really a great time to be here, and I'm experiencing such a great culture. Everybody seems so friendly. And I know, one of the world's greatest events is going on. And just to be... happen to be in the country at this time, it's an honour," said Gilarmo.
    However, with only four days to go before the opening of the Games, Beijing was shrouded with hazy skies on Monday.
    Despite last-ditch attempts to turn the smokey and dusty Chinese capital into the promised pollution-free Olympic venue, the city's famous landmarks, as well as the Olympic Green, are frequently barely visible through the haze.
    The Beijing Ministry for Environmental Protection was still showing the Chinese Air Pollution Index (API) from Friday (August 1), at a reading of API
    This figure is valid from 1200 local the weekday before until 1200 local (0300 GMT) the present day. This is grade two, "excellent", and counts as a "blue sky day". The temperature was forecast to be around 30 degrees celsius with only 51 percent humidity The authorities have ordered many cars off roads and halted much construction and factory production in an effort to cut smog before the Games open on August 8.
    But as the haze returned after a clear weekend, some visitors said they were concerned about their health, and particularly that of their children.
    The Zeelen family from Netherlands are in Beijing with their seven-year-old and three-year-old to watch the Games, and they have to learn to cope with the air quality.

    "Well, we just have to adjust the programme a little bit, and not do too much in one day. We start early, and then when it's twelve o'clock, one o'clock we go back to our rooms. Take it easy a little bit," said Zeelen.
    Chinese visitors were less sceptical, however. Beijing resident and young father Mu Kai was not worried about the grey haze, which he insisted was not smog, but simply adverse weather.

    "There is very little pollution now, because half the cars have been taken off the road. This weather is not down to man-made reasons, it is natural," Mu said.
    The government announced that it would take another 10 percent of cars off the road to improve the air quality if necessary, and ensure blue skies throughout the Games.
    But with only four days to go, time is running out for the Chinese government to make true on their promise.
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