"No danger" from Peking pollution - IOC

[orieleye]

The head of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, has praised Beijing's "extraordinary" efforts to cut pollution ahead of the Games.

He said there would be no danger to the health of athletes, despite continuing concerns about pollution levels.

He was speaking as dignitaries from around the world gathered in China's capital for Friday's opening ceremony.

Among them is US President George Bush, who earlier expressed "deep concerns" about Beijing's human rights record.

Speaking in the Thai capital, Bangkok, before travelling to the Games, Mr Bush praised China's economy but said only respect for human rights would let it realise its full potential.

China rejected Mr Bush's criticisms as "interference" in its internal affairs.

Air target missed

A day before the Games, a BBC reading suggested Beijing's air quality was far below World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

It put levels of particulate matter (PM10) at 191 micrograms per cubic metre. This far exceeds the WHO target of 50 micrograms/cubic metre, and also exceeds the WHO target for developing countries of 150 micrograms/cubic metre.



Beijing pollution: Facts and figures
In pictures: Pollution-watch

But Mr Rogge praised the Chinese authorities for having done "everything that is feasible and humanly possible to address this situation".

"What they have done is extraordinary," Mr Rogge told reporters.

He said there was "absolutely no danger" to the health of athletes taking part in events that last less than one hour. But he said if the pollution was bad, events which lasted more than that could be shifted or postponed.

Mr Rogge urged reporters to distinguish between fog and pollution - a point, correspondents say, often made by Chinese authorities.

"The fog, you see, is based on the basis of humidity and heat. It does not mean that this fog is the same as pollution," he said.

He also said that China's efforts to clean up the air around Beijing would "continue and have a lasting influence on the climate of Beijing".

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Beijing pollution efforts hailed

[Heretik]

I saw some reports on CNN and BBCworld today, and the air looks horrible. I don't think they can do much about it.