Preparing for the Big Show
TOOLBOX   Resize
 Save/Share +
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
|
The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing begin in just three days, and the Chinese government is rushing to get ready. The job is massive!
Cleaning up the city's polluted air, preparing facilities for the nearly 11,000 athletes and maintaining security are some of the efforts underway by Chinese officials, who want the event to be a big success.
There are lingering issues, however, and nobody knows how the Games, which begin Friday and end Aug. 24, will be affected.
Air Pollution
Beijing, home to 17 million people (that's more than Maryland, Virginia and the District combined), has long struggled with its air, made dirty by cars and factories.
China had promised that it would clean up the air for the Games, but efforts so far have failed to reduce the pollution to acceptable levels.
Athletes don't like to compete in polluted air because of the health risks. World record marathoner Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia has withdrawn from the Games, and some endurance events might be postponed because of the pollution concerns. Some athletes, including those from the United States, are being given air masks to wear in Beijing, though not while competing.
It's hard for athletes to know just what the dangers are because the Chinese government does not provide information about how much of each pollutant is in the air.
To try to clean up the smog, the government has taken a number of steps. They include:
· Ordering almost half of the city's 3.3 million cars off city streets.
· Shutting down factories.
· Putting more buses and subways into service.
