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Air Pollution and the Beijing Olympics

Posted by thefly • 6/23/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: beijing olympics

I know there is already controversy surrounding the Beijing Olympics. Here is another.

I was watching "Outside the Lines" on ESPN and they had a story on air pollution in Beijing and focused on U.S. triathlete Matt Reed and his struggles on the Beijing Olympic course last September in a race that nearly one-quarter of the 85 athletes competing failed to finish because of the poor air quality. Its almost certain that Beijing is manipulating their air pollution statistics to meet standards. Boxers were even reporting getting ill after a short jog around the city.

Do you think air pollution will be a factor in this coming olympics?

User Comments

6/23/08

thefly

Here is an article I was reading about manipulating their air pollution statistics by TIME. www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1722450,00.html

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6/23/08

xtremer

it seems the authorities have banned any construction activity in Beijing to curb pollution

Also, they are shooting silver iodide into the sky to bring some rains...

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1. 6/23/08
  
  thefly
  
  Well they are doing whatever they can to get statistics to where they should be. But its states in the TIME article and "Outside the Lines" also stated that the country stopped measuring nitrogen oxides the country's largest pollutant and instead started measuring nitrogen dioxide, a minor pollutant. I just feel like the air is going to affect someone.
6/23/08

timethief

Thanks for posting the link. IMO there will be breathing problems so whether or not you are an athlete or a spectator perhaps a scott airpack breathing apparatus would be a good thing to have handy.

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1. 6/23/08
  
  thefly
  
  I guess the U.S. has an advanced top secret air mask they are going to use for all U.S. athletes. They dont want to talk about it and is being kept heavily under wraps but I guess the athletes are supposed to use these masks while they train all the way up to when they have to compete.
6/23/08

Treasureblog

Yes pollution and the revolutionary reds will be a problem

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6/23/08

richrf

That country has turned into a real pig sty. I don't buy any food from there any more. Cancer has become rampant and now the problem of shoddy public construction. What people will do for money. Unbelievable.

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6/23/08

Treasureblog

@richrf
yes I agree. and I really hate those reds army

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6/23/08

carlgalloway

And people say China will become a major superpower... I just don't see it with these kinds of problems, but it's interesting that air quality is so poor. Sadly the quality of their air doesn't just stay in China, it becomes a regional and global problem.

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6/23/08

satijournal

I don't think it's healthy so I won't be competing.

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