"Pollution May Keep Record Holder Out Of Olympics Marathoner Haile Gebrselassie Suffers From Asthma" [quote]VALENCIA, Spain -- World-record holder Haile Gebrselassie is almost certain to miss the marathon at the Beijing Olympics because of the city's poor air quality. The Ethiopian long-distance star has asthma and he fears damage to his health running through the streets of the Chinese capital. Gebrselassie would be a gold-medal favorite if he did take part. His agent said the athlete will make a final decision after May 24, when he will know if he has qualified for the 10,000m at Beijing. Gebrselassie won back-to-back gold medals in the 10,000m at the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 2000 Sydney Games. The Ethiopian, who suffered from inflammation of the Achilles tendon leading up to the Athens Games, finished fifth in 2004. He turned his focus to road racing and the marathon following the 2004 Olympics. Gebrselassie has won several marathons -- including in Berlin, where he set a world record -- leading up the Beijing Games. Because of pollution, many countries have based their training camps outside China before the Olympics begin Aug. 8. [/quote] http://www.ktvu.com/sports/15552950/detail.html Also posted in Track & Field discussion section: http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/viewtopic.php?p=33567#33567

China's air pollution and the Olympics is getting more media now. It was last year too: [quote]Pollution risk for Olympic events China is celebrating the one-year countdown to Beijing 2008 Olympic chief Jacques Rogge says air pollution could lead to some events at the 2008 Beijing Games being postponed. [/quote] BBC Sport: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/6934955.stm Feb '08: "China in Olympics pollution drive China has announced unprecedented measures to cut air pollution during this year's Olympic Games." BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7264957.stm Most recent in the media: Australian news video on China's plan to work on pollution: "China on pollution alert for Olympics" http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2008/04/15/2217050.htm "Factories to Shut to Clean Beijing's Air Beijing Dirty Air Should Be Under Control; Other Problems Loom" [quote]Construction will halt, heavy industries will close, and even spray painting will stop in order to clean Beijing's polluted air for the Olympics