Isn't this whole global warming panic about pollution?
Now they are saying the pollution in China is ok...WHAT? check this out. BEIJING (AP)—The International Olympic Committee's chief medical official expressed confidence Tuesday that air pollution will not pose a major risk to athletes and visitors at the Beijing Games.
Arne Ljungqvist, chairman of the IOC medical commission, said the committee is evaluating the city's air quality based on standards set by the World Health Organization.
"Those standards are fairly tough to meet, but in many respects the Beijing area does so," Ljungqvist said on the opening day of the IOC's three-day session. "I'm sure, I'm confident the air quality will not prove to pose major problems to the athletes and to the visitors in Beijing."
Still some American track cycling athletes arrived in China's capital on Tuesday wearing face masks.
"You got to take every chance you have just to protect the airways," Michael Friedman said. "It's really just taking every precaution necessary. Who knows how bad it's going to be in a few days so if you can resist any air pollution, any contaminants, then you know it's better performance hopefully."
ADVERTISEMENT
But Ljungqvist stressed there was no need for athletes to wear anti-smog masks unless they suffer from asthma or similar respiratory ailments.
"I am certain that it was in no way intended to be disrespectful," U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said. "It is an athlete's choice. However, it didn't seem to be necessary today."
Beijing's polluted air has been one of the biggest worries for Olympic organizers and prompted drastic measures earlier this month that included pulling half the city's 3.3 million vehicles off the road, halting most construction and closing some factories in the capital and surrounding provinces.
The IOC will receive data every hour to monitor the situation throughout the Aug. 8-24 games.
"We will evaluate those and, should problems arise, we may have to take some action," Ljungqvist said.
The IOC has said outdoor endurance events, such as the marathon and road cycling race, could be postponed and rescheduled should smog levels be too high.
On Tuesday, Beijing was shrouded in a light gray haze.
Ljungqvist said he met with the WHO's local representative three days ago who expressed concern over the "exaggeration of the problem that has been seen in the media."
Ljungqvist said the WHO standard was meant only as a guideline for protecting the long-term health of local residents, not for temporary visitors such as Olympic athletes and visitors.
"That is a totally different matter," he said. "To come to a city even though the air quality (might be) inferior, the long-term effects should no longer be feared by temporary visitors."
Ljungqvist said the WHO has three standards for measuring air quality, and Beijing comes under the interim target for developing cities and countries.
He said athletes in Beijing will face the same conditions of high heat and humidity that were prevalent in Atlanta in 1996 and Athens in 2004.
"The mist in the air that we see in those places, including here, is not a feature of pollution primarily but a feature of evaporation and humidity," Ljungqvist said. "We do have a communication problem here. Once the misconception has become sort of established in the minds of people, it's not that easy to get the right message through."
At a separate news conference, Ljungqvist said air-quality readings from 27 measurement sites around Beijing since July 27 offered "encouraging" results.
"Although the two first days suggested some measurements a little above the interim target, they have now gone down, and we are steadily below the interim target," he said.
Answer by aiminhigh24u2
No, it is about the ultimate scam, perpetrated by the ultimate scam artists. hey live in mansions and fly inn private jets while they tell us how to live, what to drive and what to do. Then, they start carbon footprint companies and sell us expensive "Earth Friendly" items to make us feel better about us ruing the planet. Meanwhle the Dempcrats have the ultimate excuse to continue to raise taxes -- SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!! Did anyone tell China and India? The top and 3rd largets polluters of the planet?
Answer by Francisco M
No, it's about power, extreme environmentalists want to take away your power and right, and force you to live in poverty.
Answer by Hannah's Grandpa
You are so right, when we start controlling the environment and cleaning up the air pollution, then we will be able to stop worrying about Global Warming.
Answer by meghan g
pretty much, yeah. but because of pollution (global warming) , a hole has been created in the ozone layer, and glaciers are melting and lots of other bad things.
Answer by evans_michael_ya
Who said anything about pollution? It's about CO2 (or simply: The air we breath)....regulators believe they've devised a system to tax it.
likes this
Orignal From: Isn't this whole global warming panic about pollution?
No comments:
Post a Comment