Entries: 2008 Olympics

Monitoring Air Quality for the 2008 Olympics

Despite widespread concern that air pollution could pose major health problems for athletes competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China’s government insists its pollution control policies will be effective in curbing the air quality problem--at least during the games. 

Beijing’s municipal government, along with the Olympic Committee, has put together an emergency task force that will oversee all Olympic operations from a command post of sorts that will be staffed 24-7 for the duration of the games.  The task force will include representatives from eight focus areas that will include the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau--the organization that will be held chiefly responsible for ensuring clean air during the games.  During the games, BEPB says it will deploy a fleet of 20 vans with satellite transmitters that can send air quality measurements from the field back to the control center in downtown Beijing.  Officials could then potentially decide when it’s necessary to issue pollution controls such as shutting down factories or restricting automobile traffic.

Chinese environmental officials say that reaching the projected goal of 80% “blue sky days” during the Olympics won’t be easy, but they say the goal is well within reach. 

Beijing EPB Engineer Jingqi Liu explains different initiatives aimed at reducing the number of cars on the road

The bumper sticker for a program that encourages Beijing residents to leave their cars home at least one day a month to help reduce pollution

Beijing Gets Ready for Olympics

Get ready to meet Huanhuan, one of the cute, cuddly symbols of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  University of Illinois journalism students reporting in China Thursday visited the headquarters of the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee to learn about the games to be held here next summer.  We met with Zhang Yong, a member of the staff at the Beijing Olympics.  Among other things, we learned that air quality is a big concern for olympic organizers.  Olympic organizers say air pollution in Beijing has been improving but they say it is unrealistic to believe that it will be gone.  They’re urging greater use of public transportation to reduce pollution.  Some polluted plants in downtown have also been moved out of the city.  Organizers are also concerned about traffic in this capital city.  They’ve started a campaign for better, safer, more civilized driving, especially by the city’s notorious taxi drivers.  Beijing is holding test events this summer to try out how the Olympic games will fare at some of the 31 venues in Beijing.  They also believe the Games of the XXIX Olympiad will project a freer, more open and prosperous China. 

Huanhuan, the child of fire, symbolizing the Olympic Flame