Beijing shrouded in thick fog of pollution ahead of athletes' arrival for Olympics

Thick smog, press-restrictions...

Jeez... the IOC must be kicking themselves silly...

Jeez... the IOC must be kicking themselves silly...

May be JOC, IOC is more concerned about threat of terror attack.

The Chinese don't care about pollution. They have never cared.

"You're basically at the mercy of the winds"

Damn winds.

I have a bad feeling about these games............

IOC is more concerned about threat of terror attack

Now the terrorists are responsible for pollution? Their evil knows no bounds!

Smog.. SUPRISE!!!!

is it a suprise? I think not. They are the number one polluter in the world today. What is worse there are no activist groups that can confront the communist government of China like in a free society.. And we play on a level field??? hahaha What a friggin joke!

Embarrassing

what is the point of all this, just that china can show they can be pollution free for 10 days, who cares? beijing is a dirty city, was before, and will be after, this proves nothing

But, can Beijing have low pollution for 10 days? For 2 days? 1 Day? 30 minutes?

Beijing olympics show, 11 DAYS TO GO.

The show must go on. Not much time left for training and tactics.

I genuinely hope Beijing pulls off a great Olympics. But most of the problems we're now seeing on the eve of the games (heavy pollution, over-politicization, media censorship, muted supporting, etc) were well known long before the Chinese were ever dubiously awarded them. If the games are a failure in any sense, blame the IOC.

IMHO, Beijing will be another money losing Olympics, seen it too much recently where the host-city takes a loss.

IMHO, if Rio gets it will be another one, same for tokyo.

Times have changed and hosting an Olympic event(paying for the facilities, etc) just don't pay off in the long run.

yeah, 30, maybe even 20 years you could raw the crowds, not anymore when a flight to seoul is close to flight to Tokyo.

I see the future as co-hosted events where people can visit 2+ countries. Trains, etc are fast now what is the time between Waterloo-station(london) and Paris now?

The Europeans took 40 years to clean up their air; now the Chinese expect to do it in four weeks...

I hope this blows up in china's face, they only care about their international image, nothing else.

I heard several members of the Japanese olympic team are training in Saitama to prepare themselves for Bejing air.

Zen Builder - most Olympics run at a loss, especially once the maintenance of the white elephant facilities ticks over after the Games...I don't think that's the point of hosting the Olympics. Especially not for China where hosting the Olympics was seen as a chance to a) show off the country and its capabilities and b) to address a sense of inferiority among global community.

I am aware of those facts.

Look at the previous Tokyo Olympic, etc facilities they are dated and ready to be torn down. Yet, they will get rid of Harajuku-koen for the new facilities in case they win or NOT.

Never mind that Tsukiji-Market will be replaced by a high-tech communication centre which has no use/need beyond the olympics.

Tokyo　is ready to destroy tourist attractions for an Olympic they might not even win.

IMO, Ishihara and his Olympic plans will cause more than do good.

I wonder if the smog remains, which Chinese govt. offical will resign and be found dead or charged with "stealing" and sent to prison to never be heard of again.

Good luck athletes!

It will all hail the leader & the nation unless we get a replay of Munich. Yeah, all the leaders will be there to give congrats.

Muahaha!

No way china is going to look clean for the olympics. This will be a huge embarassment for them. And not just the smog. The food, dissidents, reports being followed by secret police, etc etc.

I have never, ever hoped for a colossal failure at any Olympics before, not even the `80 Moscow Games, but I sincerely hope that these games flop, and Red China comes away with mud in their eye. I DON'T hope that a terrible tragedy takes place, but I do hope for some hilariously predictable flop. And the smog around and in Beijing??? Just the tip of the iceberg for Red China and the so-called "one world, one dream" games....

For numerous, and rather obvious reasons, Toronto should have won the 2008 games instead of Beijing. While I was annoyed by the IOC's choice for a long time, it seems as though both they and China are now getting what they deserve. Was the air quality not taken into account during the decision making process? Certainly human rights and the rule of law were not. While I can't help but indulge in a little bit of schadenfreude, I hope that none of the events have to be postponed/canceled, and that no athlete suffers any adverse effects from the toxic stew that hangs over that place.

Needless to worry about fog pollution, Chinese Govt has taken enough measures and secured their borders for people likely to pollute Olympics. How many of you will get the Visa, tickets, accomodation? Relax, it concerns to athlets and they are strong enough to fight back any sort of pollution.

How come Tokyo isn't covered in pollution?

"The Chinese leadership consider the Beijing Olympics a matter of national prestige, and efforts to clean up the environment were part of its meticulous preparations for an event it hopes will dazzle the world."

"dazzle"

mmmm similar "to blind someone"

I guess they are hoping that onlookers wont really see what is going on. the money will keep coming regardless of what.

therefore hide all the bad things.

dirty business.

How many of you will get the Visa, tickets, accomodation?

I thought they still had alot of accomadation available due to the low take up.

"How come Tokyo isn't covered in pollution?"

Because like most industrialized developed countries they went through their pollution crisis and cleanup in the 70s and 80s. Whereas China is a developing country eager to catch up at any cost.

"How come Tokyo isn't covered in pollution?"

Because it's the rainy season and Tokyo's air is already full of clouds, rain, and 36 degrees of heat and humidity ! Choose yer poisen !

Hey China,

Why didn`t you follow the world leaders, and solve your pollution problems?

US has the cleanest air in the world, envy of the world.

westurn, you`re correct. Wonderfull air quality, so much un damaged nature.

Rest of the world don`t want to see it though, open your eyes people, see the truth.

Well....Beijing Olympics could be a catalyst like the Seoul Olympics for some political good. And heaps of the pollution in China is caused by USA companies (and others of course). AIring your dirty laundry in other places doesn't make it clean.

stanoue, heck!!!! What you talking about.

US companies adhere to the worlds highest standards wherever they do business.

They are the most ethical business on earth, bringing prosperity and freedom worldwide.

Seems like you`ve been "educated" by the wrong type of media.

A good dose of fair and balanced Fox News is what you require, me thinks.

Heh, FairandBalanced - now I know you are being sarcastic.

"heaps of the pollution in China is caused by USA companies"

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Hey stanoue, not sarcastic, just stating the truth.

US is the leader in innovation, and anti pollution.

LIke i said, educate ones self fully, on a good moderate news channel or paper. You will then doubtless agree with me.

All the foreign olympic delagations should make sure to take a barber/stylist.... to trim the athletes' nose hairs. Who knows how much it will grow in the smoggy air!

"one world, one dream" my ass! If somebody cannot see how very hypocrite Red China is, they must be blind!

stanoue...

"And heaps of the pollution in China is caused by USA companies (and others of course)."

More proof that the internet provides a forum for almost anyone ! Damn, that's funny

Sarge, why do I find that true but sad. haha

Beijing pollutions

Beijing and Wal Mart china's economic rise, comes with high price of pollution.

Where does china get all its money from, anti pollution jobs.

One world,one dream is more like, one dream world with rainbows of pollution. Europe took 50 years to clean its pollutions, wonder how long it will take china.

Another 50 years that is, in 2060's, when we will see a cleaner china/india.

Sure, stanoue, when all else fails, blame the USA for Red China's problems.

At any rate, the Reds in Beijing made oogles of promises to clean up their act in Human Rights issues and in the horridly polluted air in Beijing when they were awarded the games seven years ago. They've done next to nothing to improve either...

"heaps of the pollution in China is caused by USA companies"

The only way I could see this making any sense is if you claimed the US investment and use of China's factories indirectly contributes to the pollution. I guess.

It is called "externalities". It's the extra cost of doing business that is not accounted for. For example the health costs, lost productivity, etc associated with tobacco use. In the case of China's pollution, the globalized economy relies on China for its cheap labour in order to see goods at low prices. So, Terrikus et al, an argument can be made that American and other nation's (Japan, France, Germany, etc.) companies are direct and major contributors to China's pollution problems.

What? You think because you buy cheap items made in China you are not part of the problem? Externalities: we all pay one way or another.