2008 Woodie Awards
China's Pollution a Problem for 2008 Olympic Athletes
Jenny Arvanagh '10
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: World
This week began the 200-day countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Recently, a harmful issue has been brought to the attention of competing nations: pollution.
In preparation for the Olympics, China has spent $16.4 billion trying to diminish the effects of pollution by attempting to move the heaviest polluters outside its borders, planting trees, rerouting traffic and inducing rain, yet the problem still remains.
Some foreign Olympic teams have even pushed China to shut down all pollution-causing activities three weeks before the games.
The World Health Organization researched the amount of smoke and dust particles in Chinese air and concluded that there is three to twelve times the maximum level. Jacques Rogge, the head of the International Olympic Committee, has said that various events could be rescheduled if the air quality does not meet safety standards.
Olympic athletes are are afraid the pollution will affect their performance. In the past, athletes usually arrived in the host cities at least 10 days before the start of the event in order to practice getting used to the conditions.
This year, at least 10,000 competitors are planning to arrive just 72 hours before the first event in order to minimize pollution exposure.
The potential effects of Beijing's pollution only became apparent when China hosted numerous test events. Jeremy Horgan-Kobleski, a United States bicyclist who competed in the 2004 Olympic Games, stated "the smog was so thick you could barely see a few city blocks," according to The Associated Press.
The United States track and field team has been testing various types of face masks. Although these masks would protect against pollution, they might also slow down runners who would be wearing them.
Miriam Wilkens, a spokeswoman for the British Olympics Association, stated the British athletes have been informed of "specific diets and antioxidants to battle pollution in Beijing."
The Dutch National Olympic Committee has opted for a different solution to the problem, by acclimating to the pollution instead of avoiding it.
The Netherlands has decided to base most of its athletes in South Korea in order for them to get used to the climate, especially the air pollution.
Another concern for the Beijing Olympics is food, especially since last year's numerous food recalls. China has installed a system to monitor the food and test for contaminants, but staff members are discouraging athletes from eating at restaurants.
In preparation for the Olympics, China has spent $16.4 billion trying to diminish the effects of pollution by attempting to move the heaviest polluters outside its borders, planting trees, rerouting traffic and inducing rain, yet the problem still remains.
Some foreign Olympic teams have even pushed China to shut down all pollution-causing activities three weeks before the games.
The World Health Organization researched the amount of smoke and dust particles in Chinese air and concluded that there is three to twelve times the maximum level. Jacques Rogge, the head of the International Olympic Committee, has said that various events could be rescheduled if the air quality does not meet safety standards.
Olympic athletes are are afraid the pollution will affect their performance. In the past, athletes usually arrived in the host cities at least 10 days before the start of the event in order to practice getting used to the conditions.
This year, at least 10,000 competitors are planning to arrive just 72 hours before the first event in order to minimize pollution exposure.
The potential effects of Beijing's pollution only became apparent when China hosted numerous test events. Jeremy Horgan-Kobleski, a United States bicyclist who competed in the 2004 Olympic Games, stated "the smog was so thick you could barely see a few city blocks," according to The Associated Press.
The United States track and field team has been testing various types of face masks. Although these masks would protect against pollution, they might also slow down runners who would be wearing them.
Miriam Wilkens, a spokeswoman for the British Olympics Association, stated the British athletes have been informed of "specific diets and antioxidants to battle pollution in Beijing."
The Dutch National Olympic Committee has opted for a different solution to the problem, by acclimating to the pollution instead of avoiding it.
The Netherlands has decided to base most of its athletes in South Korea in order for them to get used to the climate, especially the air pollution.
Another concern for the Beijing Olympics is food, especially since last year's numerous food recalls. China has installed a system to monitor the food and test for contaminants, but staff members are discouraging athletes from eating at restaurants.