Poor air, clogged roads bad news for Beijing

Stephen Wade
Associated Press
Apr. 21, 2007 12:00 AM

BEIJING - Sooty air and chronic traffic congestion in the Chinese capital is still troubling the International Olympic Committee with the 2008 Beijing Olympics just 16 months away.

An inspection team - known as the IOC Coordination Commission - wrapped up three days of talks Thursday with Beijing organizers. Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the commission, said the concerns marred the largely problem-free preparations for the Summer Games.

Verbruggen said the IOC wasn't sure plans by Beijing organizers would work to clean the air and unsnarl traffic during the 17-day Olympics. advertisement 
 
 

The torch relay also hit a snag, with Taiwan balking at a compromise to bring the torch to the self-governing island, which claims independence from China. The torch relay is supposed to embody Olympic ideals, but it's also highlighting a political issue in China.

Verbruggen generally praised the Beijing organizers, saying "the attention for the games is mounting; there is vibration all over.

"I must say that it's almost an emotional feeling you have when you imagine that in some 470 days athletes will be able to perform in this magnificent environment."

In focusing on the problems, Verbruggen said Beijing organizers had kept their promises, but China's booming economy was polluting the air quicker than solutions could be found to clean it.

"We've asked for the contingency plans," Verbruggen said. "The effects of those plans will be calculated so we know if it is enough to guarantee that the quality of the air will allow the athletic performances that we expect to happen here."

He said the booming economy, with billions being spent to modernize China's capital, had led to "the enormous amount of construction sites in this country, the dust problem and so on. This is of utmost importance to the athletes, who are the most important part of the games."

Verbruggen said Beijing's clogged roads were worrisome, despite plans announced Wednesday to open at least two new subway lines before the Olympics and proposals to cut car usage by 20-30 percent during the games.

"It's totally clear with the current congestion you see in Beijing on a day to day basis, that this is something which we will obviously have to avoid during the Olympic Games," he said.

Beijing has about 3 million cars, and will have about 3.3 million by the Olympics.