International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, speaking at the opening of the 7th World Conference on Sport and the Environment Thursday, said Beijing was running out of time to tackle air pollution that could undermine the success of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
Rogge said some endurance events at the 2008 Games may have to be rescheduled because of poor air quality, reports Xinhua. “Despite all efforts, time may be running out, and the conditions required for the athletes competing in endurance disciplines might not be met 100 per cent on a given day. For this reason we may have to reschedule some events so that the health of athletes is scrupulously protected”.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) congratulated Beijing on a $12 billion clean up since it was awarded the 2008 Games. According to a UNEP report Beijing had pledged to stage a “green” Olympics and had already achieved most of its environmental goals. But the report stressed that poor air quality would not be resolved in time for the Games.
Following the IOC Coordination Commission’s three-day inspection of Beijing’s preparations Hein Verbruggen told a press conference the IOC was confident that the issue can be “adequately addressed”.
When asked if any of the events would be transferred Verbruggen said, “not a remote chance that the events might not take place here”, adding, “I am very confident that the air quality issue will be adequately addressed”.
