Air quality at the Olympics

[Vermouth]

Particulate matter readings in Beijing last week were nearly double the targeted levels for developing countries set by the World Health Organization. Yuck.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7528523.stm

[Peter1469]

I hear a while back that a famous runner was not going to attend the games this year for this very reason. 

[conley]

I hear a while back that a famous runner was not going to attend the games this year for this very reason. 

yes, this is true...can't remember the guy's name and i don't follow the sport but he was a champion

[Gunit Hussein Sangh]

They've been talking about this for over a year. I remember reading that some athletes won't be showing up until right before their event instead of arriving early and hanging out in the Olympic Village.

[conley]

the US Basketball team isn't even leaving their hotel in Macau

Any U.S. players with rooms facing south toward the airport can gaze a half-mile out their windows and count a total of 13 cranes being used to construct another five high-rise gambling establishments. Dozens more cranes are visible on the 3-mile drive to the ferry terminal where thousands of people shuttle across the sea every day between here and Hong Kong. (For those unwilling to endure the 65-minute ferry ride, another option is to take an elevator to the roof of the ferry terminal, where helicopters to Hong Kong are available.)

But to leave the grounds of this resort would mean having to endure the stifling heat, humidity and pollution (the pollution index in Hong Kong on Monday was the highest ever recorded, and the combination of haze, fog and mist has kept the Americans from seeing sunshine since they left the U.S. on Saturday). The players from Team USA have kept themselves amused by wandering the upscale shops and vast concourses during the free time outside of practice.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=CultureShock-080730&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos1

[conley]

someone please remind me again, why are the olympics being held in this hellish country

[conley]

The USOC is providing its 600-plus athletes with special air masks, which they have the option of wearing out on the streets. The masks are not intended to be worn during training or competition but some athletes have said they are considering wearing them.

New Zealand's athletes have been issued face masks as part of their standard team equipment while team managers have advised athletes to wear masks around the Olympic village but not during competition.

Japan distributed masks normally used on construction sites to its national team.