Olympics Raise Questions over China’s Environmental Pollution

[Karl]

By Jordan Penner – May 12, 2008

Environmental degradation has become China’s greatest long term challenge. As China prepares for the Olympics, that long term challenge has produced immediate embarrassment. The favorite to win the marathon in Beijing has dropped out and entered into the 10,000 meter race, for fear that intense smog will severely impair his performance. Some athletes will even be staying in Japan and South Korea to escape the smog.

Source: BC :: Collegian: Environmental news from around the world

[Myrtti]

Thanks to the Olympics millions of people will be watching China in August. And even though it's supposed to be all about sports it's not and people will have to blind not to see how messed up some of the things in China are. Environment being one. And when people will see this (I hope) China will get more pressure from the outside world to start working for a less-poluted environment. Or so I hope...

[include]

Will it change attitudes there though or will they simply look to cover up the smog short-term before returning to normal afterwards?

[Karl]

Originally Posted by include

Will it change attitudes there though or will they simply look to cover up the smog short-term before returning to normal afterwards?

Exactly what I was thinking...
Pressure = Response,
But for how long (after the Olympics)?

[Myrtti]

For a week?

[spadlet]

Originally Posted by include

Will it change attitudes there though or will they simply look to cover up the smog short-term before returning to normal afterwards?

Maybe they'll ban all of the local people from driving for the duration of the Olympics.

[forfismum]

[macgardener]

I've also seen mentioned on another forum about the strain on Beijing's water supply, even before the Olympics, but the Olympics will make it worse.

[mellow_hendrix]

On the plus side its giving the British athletes a ready made excuse for when we trail home last "it was the pollution guv!"

[Karl]

Apparently they read this forum…

Originally Posted by spadlet

Maybe they'll ban all of the local people from driving for the duration of the Olympics.

Beijing Olympic car ban targets pollution, gridlock

PhysOrg.com – June 20, 2008

Beijing will ban more than one million cars from the streets during the Olympics in an effort to curb pollution and ease traffic gridlock, the government confirmed Friday. Cars with odd- and even-numbered license plates will be ruled off the roads on alternate days for two months starting July 20, the Beijing government said in a notice posted on its website. Also, 70% of all government cars and vehicles owned by state-run enterprises will be banned under the measure announced seven weeks ahead of the opening ceremony for the August 8-24 Games. The ban is aimed at cutting air pollution and alleviating chronic traffic congestion, the government notice said…

Full Article: Beijing Olympic car ban targets pollution, gridlock