LONDON: British Olympic chiefs have praised Chinese authorities for taking steps to ensure air pollution will not cause major problems at next month's Beijing Olympics.

The potential damage to athletes from smog and algae in Beijing has been a concern since the International Olympic Committee awarded the Games to the Chinese capital.

But the British Olympic Association believe measures to reduce the smog by halving the number of cars on the city's roads and shutting down factories will prove effective.

The Chinese have also had to tackle the appearance of huge areas of green algae at the Qingdao sailing venue.

Britain's Olympic mission chief Simon Clegg said: "We are increasingly confident that the arrangements the Chinese have put in place will address those issues.

"The resources the Chinese threw at the algae problem was impressive and the reports from Qingdao are very positive indeed.

"Likewise with the smog, in the main things are improving and there are still some substantial changes to be implemented - the reduction of cars on the road and implementation of Olympic lanes."

In another pollution-cutting move, 267 companies near the capital shut down from yesterday until after the Games.

Clegg also believes the IOC will allow a replacement for Paula Radcliffe if the marathon runner fails to recover in time from injury.

Replacements are not allowed automatically if athletes are suffering from an existing injury.

But Clegg said: "Although she is carrying an existing injury we are confident she will make the team but if necessary to put in place a late-injury replacement.

"We are confident that would be dealt with sympathetically by the IOC."

Meanwhile, BOA chairman Colin Moynihan insists Britain's athletes will not be prevented from expressing personal political opinions in Beijing.

"Overwhelmingly, athletes will be going to win medals but should they have any opinion with regard to Chinese policy on Zimbabwe, Darfur or Tibet they are totally entitled to air their concerns within the realms of common sense and having listened to IOC advice," Moynihan said.

"The IOC have asked that there is no propaganda and no demonstrations at the Olympic Games, many of the 205 countries are in conflict and the Games are not the right venue for these."

- AFP/yb