The Olympic movement was born thousands of years ago. Sporting contests were held in Olympia after every four years in honour of Zeus. The first recorded Olympic Games were held in 776 BC
BEIJING: Seeking to address concerns over pollution in Beijing, China today promised international athletes that it would stick to all its commitments for a ‘Green Olympics’.
With less than two months left for the August Olympics and nagging concerns over air quality, China said it attached “great importance” to environmental issues and the Beijing government had initiated 200 measures to address them.
“The Chinese government will stick to its commitments to the IOC and do its best to make preparations for the Games,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told reporters here.
She was responding to a question on reports that Australia’s track and field athletes would not take part in the opening ceremony of the Olympics, partly due to pollution problems in Beijing. Jiang said, “those concerns (about pollution) are not necessary. As for issues like environment, the Chinese government has made great efforts and taken a lot of measures.”
She said the Beijing government had also made joint efforts with nearby cities and taken emission reduction measures.
“We believe that during the Games, the main criteria for the Olympics will be met and we would like to provide a beautiful and clean environment to athletes,” Jiang said. “China welcomes athletes of all countries to come and join the Games and we wish them success in the competition,” she said.
Air quality in Beijing has come under repeated close scrutiny with rising number of vehicles and industrial pollution causing concerns.
China has spent billions of dollars in the past several years to ensure a better environment in Beijing by shifting factories, shutting down several of them, ordering construction to be suspended ahead of the Games and encouraging the people to use public transport.
Beijing says its efforts have paid off as reflected in its meeting the target of “blue sky days.”
