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IOC: Beijing pollution no threat to athletes

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 6:47 AM EDT 18/03/08

Organization's top medical official admits conditions could affect world-class performances ...Read the full article

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  1. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: The WHO said that pollution for some measures was 5 times greater than what was considered safe, and this guy says there will be no problems. Right, I can see how he'd make that conclusion. The Olympic games being cancelled would be so fitting, could there be another more just outcome for the Communist Party of China? Let's hope this is a glorious opportunity for the Tibetans to air some dirty laundry to the world, fully support the Dalai Lama, FREE TIBET, BOYCOTT the OLYMPIC GAMES IN CHINA!!!
  2. Sue City from Canada writes: It seems there are too many good reasons to boycott China's olympics.
  3. Robert Miller from Habs-ifax, Canada writes: And doping amongst athletes is no longer a problem in the Olympics....
  4. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: The Chinses olympics will be a failure as far as I can tell. You just don't make the level of polution they have dissapear. You will hear complaints from both fans and athletes on the polution. Some may not even show up to events.

    Olympics don't mean what they use to. The shine has worn off and all we are left with is a corrupt Olympic Comittee.
  5. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: I'll admit the thought of boycotting these olympics does seem appropriate. But, I just can't to that to our athletes. Sure it gives China a black eye, but it also hurts those that have trained all there lives for an oppurtunity to complete in the Olympics. You are crushing dreams.

    We should stop giving aid money to China and use that to finance our athletes.
  6. George Hall from Canada writes: The games will run if the pollution is so thick the athletes can't see to run. i
    Business and industry has always shown itself to be ingenious and flexible and could certainly be in adapting to a clean green economy.
    Governments are far too soft on business...that will choke the world to death for a buck.
    the Chinese leaders need to get off their butts and show flexibility with Tibet and also demonstrate to the world what they are doing in regards to pollution cleanup
  7. Canadian Pom from London, United Kingdom writes: Good times for the IOC; first a press release saying that we shouldn't pay any attention to the whole Tibet thing, and now a statement that actually, pollution levels five times the WHO "safe" levels are fine.

    As for this notion that this is all unexpected, that's plainly nonsense. The human rights issues have always been a problem in China, and it's why many people felt that giving them the games was innapropriate. The pollution is hardly a surprise either - where did they think it was going to go with China not working to cut down on pollution?

    Will the IOC be offering a photoshop service that removes pollution and/or abused protestors from all images taken at the games, or will they rely on the Chinese government to do that?
  8. A Chinaman from Canada writes: IOC is a political correctness organization. Moreover it is a very successful business institution.
    I am no longer interested in the Games. It is all about money!
  9. King 99 from Canada writes: And guns don't kill people, people do.
  10. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: Boycott the games. In fact, the West should do everything and anything to undermine, embarrass, weaken and hobble China.
  11. W R from Canada writes: Thank you Tibet. You are giving the West the reason they needed to boycott the Olympics (as I predicted a year ago). It is doubtful, given the state of the environment, supporting infrastructure and nature of government in China that they ever wanted to go there in the first place. They now have their excuse to pull out.
  12. Rain Couver from Canada writes: What an embarrassment to China.
  13. L. C. from Canada writes: Honestly.. we are in Canada and we have no right to say about the China and their government. Each country has their issue to deal with. Free Tibet... do you ever hear China comes to Canada and tell us to Give our land back to the Native??? NO...... !!!

    The Tibet and Taiwan problem we see is more or less like Quebec looking for a separation... They want to use everything you have.. but.. they don`t want to call CANADA.. Tibet is the same.. I want to get everything from you.. but I don`t want to be part of china.. Tibet is in no good position to be independent. they have nothing to drive its economy.. Exporting the monks?? sending out a few more Dailai Lama??

    From what I've heard, Chinese government has done a tremendous thing to reduce the air pollution.. however it is hard to do as most of you has pointed out.. are you going to tell 30 million people stop breathing now until the olympic is over. It is impossible. One good thing they can consider is.. changing the outdoor activity location to off beijing. Like they have delegated certain event to HK. I think this is something they may end up doing.
  14. Clark The Mighty from Canada writes: IOC is totally corrupt.

    YES THE POLLUTION IS BAD THERE!
  15. Larfing Outloud from Virgin Islands (British) writes: Best way to boycott this upcoming fiasco is to hit the IOC where it hurts and boycott any sponsors.

    Hope Coca-Cola et al are listening.
  16. Lunch Bucket Joe from Canada writes: If you boycott how will they know if you're there or not? They all wear masks for breathing and you can't see basically 20' in front of you. So if you're sitting in the nose bleed seats at the stadium, you literally have a nose bleed and won't be able to see the field. Larfing I don't think it's Coke over there. I think it's Coke-a-Kora
  17. The Last Bastion from Toronto, Canada writes: How on Earth did this city win the honur to host the games? Oh ya, the IOC is more concerned with how many t-shirts and cell phone subscriptions they can shill versus the nobility and humanity of hosting the Olympic Games.

    I, for one, will not watch a minute of the games, will actively seek to distance my cash from sponsor products and will only tune in to view the glorious embarassment in store for china as the madia of the world look to Tibet, the one child rule and countless other atrocities happening daily.

    Good Job IOC. You've again proven that you're intersted in nothing more than pandering to would-be superpowers and the almighty dollar! Take the flame back to Athens and lets just wait another 4 years. You've soiled AGAIN what is supposed to be a beautiful display of athletic prowess and an event the world can unite under. Whoever sat on that selection-voting committee should be publically shamed then fired.

    TLB
  18. Terry Terry from Brantford, Canada writes: Before the Olympics in Mexico many athletes were training at high altitude locations to condition themselves to the thin air-- this might explain why you see so many people running behind diesel transit buses. Clark the Mighty you are mighty right. ...and the gold medal for spin goes to....
  19. Rob L from Vancouver, Canada writes: The one child policy is a tough choice China has to make. There's actually been talks of eliminating this policy recently. I don't know which is scarier, having the one child policy or eliminating. At least China is doing something for the environment. Whas has Canada done for the environment? Block Kyoto? With warning after warning of the environmental effects, sales of SUVs have not dropped. It only dropped recently not because of environmental concerns, but becuase of gas prices. If you compare the population of Canada and China, on a per capita basis, Canada pollutes way more than China does, even though China now manufactures so much of what the world consumes.
  20. John Stanton from Canada writes: You will be able to recognize the IOC and author's of this report. They will be in the air cleaned boxes with masks over their mouth!! what a joke... ha ha.
  21. John Stanton from Canada writes: Stop spewing ignorance Rob L. China produces HALF of the WORLD's pollution and somehow they do lots for the environment. You of all people will be amongst the first to breathe it all in more and more than you already are on the west coast. It amazes me how people apologize for the repugnant nation of China.
  22. Jason C. from JOakville, Canada writes: L. C. from Canada writes: "Honestly.. we are in Canada and we have no right to say about the China and their government."

    Um, actually yes we do. In Canada, we have this thing called Freedom of Speech. Maybe you don't like it, but the vast majority of Canadians do. We can also use it without fear of being killed, unlike what the people of Tibet are going through.

    As for the IOC, it does nothing except look out for its own self-interest. The Olympics have nothing to do with honest competition; they're simply a tool for certain people and companies to make big bucks. The unfortunate thing is that many athletes will probably acquire respiratory illnesses from these Olympics, but why should the IOC care since they won't be paying their medical bills in the future.
  23. Bryan Kim from Canada writes: RE: L C from Canada

    You sounded like a spokesperson from Chinese government.
  24. Wayne H from Canada writes: IOC: Beijing pollution no threat to athletes.

    Or should it be......

    IOC: Beijing pollution no threat to Global warming.

    When will people wake up and understand that the IOC is just a big scam..........A waste of tax payers money no matter where they are held.
  25. Boy Tigas from Canada writes: ........MASKs will be provided throughout the festivities.
  26. Stude Ham from Canada writes: As the Beijing 5-ring circus collapses on itself with Tibet and many chinese provinces in active protests... the IOC issues a statement whose credibility rests on data provided by the beijing 2008 organizers. the IOC blundered by handing china this world event and between tibet, and the rampant pollution of beijing, will suffer a fate worse than Berlin 1936.

    BOYCOTT BEIJING 2008!!
  27. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: Are you kidding Rob?

    http://www.ban.org/photogallery/index.html

    Here's your environmentalists
  28. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: It's easy to say boycott. But remember there are Canadian athletes that have spent their whole lives to this point training and dreaming of competiting in the olympics.
  29. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: Sorry about the grammar (or lack of)
  30. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Knowledge is True Opinion. I understand your point, I've stopped and I've consider it for a few moments, and you know what? It doesn't move me one bit, folks who have chosen to train for a sporting event out of their own free will don't trump attrocities committed by a totalitarian regime, furthermore they do not trump an organization (the IOC) that couldn't care about amateur sports but more concerned with pushing forth an ideology and making billions. If anything I have a lack of sympathy for them buying into the farce and perpetuating it!
  31. Not right or left from Canada writes: Canada should boycott the Olympics for multiple reasons. How did China get the games in the first place?
  32. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: Well then Martyn that's just sad. I just can't be that cynical. And your lack of sympahy comment? Whether you agree with the ideology or not, or whether it's free will or not, these athletes have dedicated their lives and put everything into one dream. I'm going to support our athletes, and they will do this country proud.

    The boycott is hypocritcal. Boycott the olympics, hurt the athletes. Where's your computer that you are using made? Why not start boycotting the millions of products made in China we purchase and use everyday.



  33. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: Boycott the Olympics!!!! OH look an Apple store.
    Boycott the Olympics!!!! OH look a Wal Mart,
  34. roy f from van, Canada writes: Isn't there some kind of growth hormone product athletes could inhale to beef up their lung tissue before the games?
    More likely Beijings authorities will shut down all non-vital polluting a week or two beforehand, then bring out the giant fans. Remember these are the people who paint the grass green when the IOC comes to town.
    Its all the same to me since I won't be watching.
  35. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Why is that "just sad"? I am a competitve "club level" athlete myself, and trained hard as a teenager and as a young adult in my particular sport. I still compete, train and love the competition. There are many other avenues to explore, the Olympics does not have a monopoly on sports participation or viewing. Do I wish them "harm" or do I think they should be kept from participating in their respective sports? No I don't, however I don't think they should have consideration in the matter, it's "above" athletes, this is about tyranny.
  36. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: Regardless of your opinion or not, the Olympics is the pinnacle for most Summer Olympics events. Winning a medal still represents a highest of accomplishments. It is a dream, the same way winning the Stanley Cup or World Series or Super Bowl is. It is the be all and end all whether you think it is or not.

    This is above "athletes" as you say, but it's not above our own convenience and our own search for the lowest price.

    It's hypociritcal to now shout Boycott when for years people have given a rats a $ $.
  37. Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: I'm not saying we shouldn't start somewhere, or that because we've never cared we shouldn't do anything. But let's first modify our own purchase behaviour. When we are truly willing to sacrifice our own comforts and convenience then we'd truly be making a difference.
  38. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: I'd agree with your last posting the line that alludes to us sacraficing our own comforts and modify our own purchase behaviour. Yes fully agree 100% with that sentiment.
  39. Kevin Dooley from Canada writes: I think that we should boycott the Olympics, but not because China is an oppressive totalitarian state. It is, of course, but the real problem here is that Beijing is a singularly inappropriate location for this event. The heat, humidity and pollution are terrible. The political problems are terrible. Because of the poor conditions, the athletes will not be able to perform to their peak potential, so there will be no world records in any events that require endurance, making it rather uninteresting to most observers.
    So why should it be boycotted? The boycott should be aimed against the IOC for putting on a garbage event that fails to meet the expectations of either the athletes or the spectators - after all, who actually matters here? Athletes? Spectators? No, the only people who matter here are the IOC and their disgusting little political exercise to kiss China's nether regions.

    That's why it should be boycotted - because as a sporting event, the Olympics are no longer relevant.
  40. Joe Canada from Kingston, Canada writes: Who needs to worry about air pollution and the 6 million Canadians suffering from various forms of respiratory illnesses when we can just jump on the latest global-warming, global-cooling, global-dimming, climate change...bandwagon.

    Asthma cases alone are increasing at an alarming rate and are at an all-time high, but hey that's not as sexy as worshiping the Goreacle is.
  41. S D from Canada writes: There's no way any events will be "postponed" due to air pollution. There's too much pride and, more importantly, television revenues, riding on this. Sorry eastern USA, we're gonna move those primetime events to 11:30 am next Tuesday because some sprinter from Uganda might get a cough. It just won't happen. You'll see a tapdance like you won't believe if any tests come anywhere close to being "bad" and it will all be fine thank-you-very-much-for-asking-nothing-to-see-here-please-keep-moving. You heard it hear first sports fans...
  42. Lowen Wrainger from Canada writes: IOC? (International Oxygen Cartel) Sounds like they've taken a page right out the Tobacco Lawyer's PR Manual. Maybe China is also gearing up to sell us bottled air cheap! Various geo-flavors .... prairie-air, mountain-air, sea-air, then dairy-air!
  43. T E from Toronto, Canada writes: I thought the air was bad in Shanghai until I went form there to Beijing! Me and my entire family found that after just a day there when we blew our noses the kleenex would be mostly full of black soot. Who knows how much of that actually just stayed in our lungs. I can't imagine how an endurance athlete will deal with this. It's gonna be interesting!
  44. Asterix M from Canada writes: You can get the IOC to same pretty much anything if the price is right.

    They are one of the most corrupted organization in the World.

    The IOC should be destroyed and the Olympics should be controled by the United Nation. (you could also add FIFA in there)
  45. Cyrus Of Persia from Canada writes: Pure lies.
  46. W R from Stratford, PE, Canada writes: Cyrus Of Persia from Canada writes: Pure lies.

    Cyrus, could you be more specific? Who is lying about what?
  47. guy tozer from saskatoon, Canada writes: Hmmmmmmmmm! Data supplied by the Beijing organizing commitee. Sounds like the 'ol fox guarding the hen house again. Won't support the olympics or buy any olympic souvenier. As for boycotting Chinese products? When was the last time you saw a pair of shoes with an instep? Many, many years ago before we started to buy cheap. I will pay much more for quality, than walk around flat footed . Ya WalMart lives on in China
  48. Steve C from Canada writes: Knowledge is True Opinion from Canada writes: It's easy to say boycott. But remember there are Canadian athletes that have spent their whole lives to this point training and dreaming of competiting in the olympics.

    So who cares about the suffering of the Chinese under the Communist Party? The ends justify the means, eh? Anything to make sure athletes get to compete in their games. Frankly, athletes that compete in the olympics are seriously lacking ethics and are simply selfish.
  49. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: How reassuring that the IOC has now discovered that air pollution is no longer a threat and that heat and humidity are far more dangerous. This will be wonderful news for major cities around the world.
  50. Jim Bradley from Ottawa, Canada writes: I feel sorry for the athletes who have trained so hard to end up competing in smog! Its been said in this thread before but it needs to be said again: China is a world leader in pollution. It's economy is fuelled by the west's willingness to export its polluting industries. Now.... exactly how good a deal is that $29.95 DVD player from a big box store?
  51. Wally Grisold from Toronto, Canada writes: Maybe all of the events should be run in the A/C enviroment of the Hotel Suites of the IOC, no smog there I'll bet. I wonder who their weather forcaster is Ho-Chi-Min.

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