Olympic organisers say air quality in Beijing is “not that bad”, and they say they can guarantee clearer skies for the games. From ABCNews, Australia.
The pledge came as the city was again blanketed in a thick haze, with temperatures at the Olympic stadium in the low 30s.
Du Shaozhong from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau says air quality has been improving.
The city implemented new controls a week ago to reduce the number of cars on the roads.
Cars with odd-numbered plates can drive only on odd-numbered days.
A number of heavy-polluting factories have also been shut down for the duration of the games.
Yet despite the measures, the pollution index for the city has been increasing in recent days.
Mr Du says “extreme weather” is to blame.
