We've been hearing for years about the smog dangers in Beijing. The Chinese have reportedly been shutting down factories and limiting car use for months to stave off the international embarrassment of having the IOC postpone events due to smog. With under two weeks left before the Opening Ceremonies, reports are coming in that on Monday a "blanket of smog" had enveloped Beijing, and that visibility was no more than a "few hundred meters."
A Chinese official said that the government would "implement an emergency plan 48 hours in advance if the air quality deteriorates." Deteriorates? Looking at some pictures, I don't see how it could get any worse! And what emergency plan are they going to implement that will clear the air in 48 hours? Are they going to stop all cars and factories and buy some giant fans to blow the smog away? I've been assuming all along that this would end up being a non-story for the Olympics. Now, I'm starting to believe it might become the story of the Olympics.
We've been hearing for years about the smog dangers in Beijing. The Chinese have reportedly been shutting down factories and limiting car use for months to stave off the international embarrassment of having the IOC postpone events due to smog. With under two weeks left before the Opening Ceremonies, reports are coming in that on Monday a "blanket of smog" had enveloped Beijing, and that visibility was no more than a "few hundred meters."
A Chinese official said that the government would "implement an emergency plan 48 hours in advance if the air quality deteriorates." Deteriorates? Looking at some pictures, I don't see how it could get any worse! And what emergency plan are they going to implement that will clear the air in 48 hours? Are they going to stop all cars and factories and buy some giant fans to blow the smog away? I've been assuming all along that this would end up being a non-story for the Olympics. Now, I'm starting to believe it might become the story of the Olympics.
