• Beijing, China's air quality has become a major international issue—especially among athletes—in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Chinese government has been working on improving air quality for several years and remains adamant that pollution will be at acceptable levels in time for the Olympics in August 2008. Still, the IOC has said that some events, like cycling and distance running, may have to be postponed.

• 1. Number of "blue sky days," 1998: 100China Daily: Beijing warned of 'blue sky' crisis (May 30, 2006)
  2. Number of "blue sky days," 2007: 246BBC News: Beijing 'meets pollution target' (December 31, 2007)
  3. China has spent $16.9 billion on air quality improvementChinese-embassy.org.uk: Chinese FM: foreign athletes may have better luck in Beijing (March 12, 2008)
  4. Car exhaust, construction dust and industrial exhaust biggest contributors
  5. From March 20, 2008, all earthwork construction on windy days suspended
  6. Formal ban on construction issued from July 21 to September 20, 2008
  7. Many athletes trained in neighboring Japan and South Korea
  8. World record holder Haile Gebrselassie has withdrawn from the marathon

• Gebrselassie Withdrawal

  On March 10, 2008, current marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie said he will not compete in the marathon in Beijing due to concerns over air pollution. Gebrselassie is the first athlete to protest or withdraw from an event over pollution concerns.The New York Times: Citing Pollution, Gebrselassie Opts Out of Olympic Marathon (March 11, 2008)

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