China shuts service stations over Olympic pollution fears
China is having to close one in ten petrol stations in the capital Beijing to deal with air pollution fears for this summer’s Olympics.
More than 150 will be shut by the end of May because it would cost too much fit them with special nozzles to return petrol fumes to the underground storage tanks rather than allow them to disperse into the air.
Concerns over hot, polluted air in Beijing during the August games have seen national Olympic committees scrambling for ways to protect their athletes, especially those competing in outdoor endurance events.
Ground-level dust, soot and industrial emissions mixed with car exhaust creates a grey haze that regularly blankets the city of 17 million, while high humidity and a lack of wind in August pose an additional challenge.
Beijing has begun shutting down blast furnaces in the city’s biggest steel company to improve air quality, and plans to suspend work on city building sites from May onward.
Temporary traffic restrictions are being planned to ease traffic and reduce vehicle exhaust, and thousands, possibly millions, of temporary residents will be given holidays to return home to further reduce congestion.
But with the effectiveness of such measures yet to be proven, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has warned that some events could be postponed if air pollution presents a danger.
Haile Gebrselassie, recognised as the world’s greatest distance runner and holder of the world marathon record, said he might skip the Olympic marathon altogether in Beijing and opt for the shorter 10,000 metres.
The British Olympic Association said yesterday it was considering supplying its athletes with masks at the Olympics to counter pollution.
Other associations are reportedly also considering such steps, and most have advised their athletes to arrive in Beijing as late as possible and leave as soon as they can.
