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LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Olympic president Jacques Rogge believes pollution-cutting measures for next month's Games will leave a lasting legacy in China's fight against environmental meltdown.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have placed stringent controls on Beijing in the run up to August's sporting gala, prompting the Chinese government to take sweeping measures to cut pollution.
Earlier this month companies were ordered to stagger or shorten working hours in a bid to improve poor air quality and traffic gridlock.
Beijing, often rated as having one of the worst pollution problems in the world by agencies such as the United Nations and the World Bank, has spent US$16 billion over the past decade on improving the environment.
The government has slapped a ban on around one million cars in the capital city, which will take effect on July 20, just weeks before the opening ceremony on August 8.
"We asked the Chinese authorities for guarantees (on pollution) and they passed new legislation for environmental protection," says Rogge.
"It was a real structural effort for the long term. The Chinese are making durable efforts, planting a million trees between Beijing and the Gobi desert.
"They have turned coal-powered factories into factories using gas, closing the most polluting ones."
He added: "They are making giant efforts in water treatment, banning cars that don't respect the environment. These are measures which are going to remain after the Games."
Rogge said that indoor and short-course events had been given the pollution green-light, but he echoed a warning he made last year saying that some endurance events may be postponed if air quality fails to meet standards.
"Studies by our medical commission have shown that there will be no pollution problems with indoor sports and for events of less than an hour," he said.
"It's true there are potential risks for some events of more than an hour, such as the marathon and road cycling, but not football or tennis."
Marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie has said he will not compete in the event due to air quality problems, preferring instead to go for gold in the 10,000m.
Britain's women's world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe recently expressed her fears that pollution in the Chinese capital may exacerbate her asthma.
"It might not even be as bad as everyone thinks because I'm sure the Chinese will do everything they can to reduce the problem," said Radcliffe who - if she recovers from injury - may wear a special breathing apparatus while training in China.
But Rogge insisted that tests carried out last year showed that air quality levels were within limits set by the International Health Organization (IHO), adding that events will be rescheduled if pollution is too high.
"If it were to happen, we would defer the competition to another day."
Rogge, whose mandate finishes next year, was positive that Beijing is on course to meet the IOC's pollution-cutting targets.
"We are on the home bend. We have just sent a team for the last inspection. The head of the coordination committee, Hein Verbruggen, has said he is satisfied.
"There is still hard work to do, but that hard work will continue until the closing ceremony."
- AFP/yb
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