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Beijing air 'safe for athletes' Beijing air 'safe for athletes'
(41 minutes later)
Beijing's air quality poses no risk to athletes' health, Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, has told reporters.Beijing's air quality poses no risk to athletes' health, Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, has told reporters.
One day before the opening ceremony of the Games, Mr Rogge said proper checks were in place to protect competitors.One day before the opening ceremony of the Games, Mr Rogge said proper checks were in place to protect competitors.
He also warned that poor visibility could be caused by high humidity as well as pollution. There have been persistent concerns about the effect of the poor quality of Beijing's air on Olympic athletes.
But a BBC reading on Thursday suggested Beijing air quality was far below World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. In separate remarks, US President George Bush expressed "deep concerns" over China's human rights record.
The BBC reading put levels of particulate matter (PM10) at 191 micrograms per cubic metre. Speaking in the Thai capital, Bangkok, before travelling to the Games, Mr Bush praised China's economy but said only respect for human rights would let it realise its full potential.
This far exceeds the WHO target of 50 micrograms/cubic metre, and also exceeds the WHO target for developing countries of 150 micrograms/cubic metre.
'No danger''No danger'
"Of course we prefer clear skies, but the most important thing is that the health of the athletes is protected," Mr Rogge said in the news conference.Mr Rogge said events could be moved if weather conditions dictated A BBC reading on Thursday suggested Beijing's air quality was far below World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
It put levels of particulate matter (PM10) at 191 micrograms per cubic metre. Beijing pollution: Facts and figuresIn pictures: Pollution-watchHave the Games changed China?
This far exceeds the WHO target of 50 micrograms/cubic metre, and also exceeds the WHO target for developing countries of 150 micrograms/cubic metre.
But Mr Rogge insisted there was no threat to Olympic competitors.
"Of course we prefer clear skies, but the most important thing is that the health of the athletes is protected," Mr Rogge said in the news conference.
He said there was "absolutely no danger" to the health of athletes taking part in events that last less than one hour.He said there was "absolutely no danger" to the health of athletes taking part in events that last less than one hour.
But he said if the pollution was bad, events which lasted more than one hour could be shifted or postponed.But he said if the pollution was bad, events which lasted more than one hour could be shifted or postponed.
Detailed 72-hour forecasting services provided to Olympic authorities would allow events to be moved according to climatic conditions, he added.Detailed 72-hour forecasting services provided to Olympic authorities would allow events to be moved according to climatic conditions, he added.
Mr Rogge urged reporters to distinguish between fog and pollution - a point, correspondents say, often made by Chinese authorities.Mr Rogge urged reporters to distinguish between fog and pollution - a point, correspondents say, often made by Chinese authorities.
"The fog, you see, is based on the basis of humidity and heat. It does not mean that this fog is the same as pollution," he said."The fog, you see, is based on the basis of humidity and heat. It does not mean that this fog is the same as pollution," he said.
And Mr Rogge praised China's efforts to clean up the air around Beijing - including taking hundreds of thousands of cars off the road and introducing other traffic restrictions, changing factory fuels, and moving very polluting factories far away from the capital. And he praised China's efforts to clean up the air around Beijing - including taking hundreds of thousands of cars off the road and introducing other traffic restrictions, changing factory fuels, and moving very polluting plants far away from the capital.
These efforts would "continue and have a lasting influence on the climate of Beijing", Mr Rogge promised.These efforts would "continue and have a lasting influence on the climate of Beijing", Mr Rogge promised.
'America's opposition'
President Bush made his criticisms of China's human rights record in Bangkok, a stop on his final trip to Asia before he leaves office in January.
George Bush urges China to improve its human rights records
"The US believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings," he said.
Mr Bush said he was optimistic about China's future and said change in China would arrive "on its own terms".
But his criticisms were clear.
"America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists," he said.
Critics say China has failed to live up to promised improvements in its rights record made when it was awarded the Games.
In other developments:
  • Cheering crowds watched the Olympic torch being paraded along a misty Great Wall
  • The two Koreas will not march together at the opening ceremony, a reversal on the last two Olympic Games
  • Tibetan groups have held large protests in both India and Nepal on the eve of the Games
  • China has selected basketball star Yao Ming to carry the national flag in the opening ceremony.