A murky haze hovered over Olympic venues in Beijing on Tuesday, sparking concern among athletes that it could affect their performances, but Games bosses insisted the dangers were being exaggerated.
With just three days to go before the opening ceremony in the Chinese capital, visibility was again poor near the main venues despite drastic measures to reduce the city's notorious smog.
Some weightlifters, whose events take place indoors, warned that the pollution could affect their performances, while some athletes were seen arriving at Beijing airport wearing gas masks.
"Very bad," Turkish junior world weightlifting champion Sibel Ozkan told AFP, covering her nose and mouth with a cupped hand, when asked about the pollution.
Indonesian weightlifting team official Syafraidi Cut Ali said his squad were under strict instructions to stay in the open air as little as possible.
"We stay in our bedrooms and the dining rooms, not in the open," Ali said. "It is a problem."
With just three days to go before the opening ceremony in the Chinese capital, visibility was again poor near the main venues despite drastic measures to reduce the city's notorious smog.
Some weightlifters, whose events take place indoors, warned that the pollution could affect their performances, while some athletes were seen arriving at Beijing airport wearing gas masks.
"Very bad," Turkish junior world weightlifting champion Sibel Ozkan told AFP, covering her nose and mouth with a cupped hand, when asked about the pollution.
Indonesian weightlifting team official Syafraidi Cut Ali said his squad were under strict instructions to stay in the open air as little as possible.
"We stay in our bedrooms and the dining rooms, not in the open," Ali said. "It is a problem."
- added August 05, 2008
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