Recently the numerous newspaper articles and news reports about the Olympics have all included or focused on Beijing’s air pollution problem and as a result of its environmental problem whether or not the Olympics should still occur.
In a ‘World news Australia’ report it states that numerous methods are being implemented to help reduce the air pollution over the duration of the Olympics. These methods include; the closure of coal burning factories, the shifting of factories, tree planting programmes, banning cars from the streets and to scatter overhead clouds so that the skies are blue. Even with all these methods in place, should the Olympics still be given the go-ahead?
From a health point of view, the telegraph reports that the WHO believes the air pollution levels are so high, Olympic spectator’s health could be at risk especially those with asthma or heart problems. Additionally, Baker 24.08.2007 states in the Telegraph, some of the games may not be able to occur if the pollution levels are too high as performance could be significantly reduced. So although health problems may occur with the current air pollution, surely if reduction methods are in place when the Olympics actually take place, the air pollution levels will be at such a level that health problems may not occur?
In the telegraph, Baker 24.08.2007 states that with a trial car banning programme this was not the case. It had been thought that if cars were taken off of the road air pollution would decrease and the smog would be reduced. In fact congestion was slightly reduced but the smog layers were not lifted. Therefore are any of this short term reduction methods actually going to have a significant impact on the air pollution?
So far there has not been a trial period with all the short term methods in place. In my opinion this could therefore mean that once all the methods are in place there is a possibility that the smog will be lifted and air pollution will be reduced, as the different methods may work in cooperation with each other. If this is the case then the Olympics should be able to occur and health problems won’t be as much of a problem. Equally there is a high chance that even with all the numerous methods in place air pollution and smog will be insignificantly reduced and both the athletes and spectators will be at risk of health problems, which could result in some of the games being cancelled. So yes the 2008 Olympics could be the first games cancelled as a result of air pollution.
References:
Baker. G. 2007. Olympic spectators warned over air in Beijing. The Daily Telegraph. 24th August. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/17/wchina117.xml. Viewed 18th March 2008
Poor air quality may cause trouble to Beijing Olympic Games (News report). October 28th 2007. World news Australia news report. Report by Rena Sarumpaet.
