Ugh. I just watched an ESPN "Outside the Lines" report on the air quality in Bejing. It was scary. Basically, the government is lying about the improvement they are making by taking polution readings 40 miles outside of the city. Their "Blue Sky" days increased by 100 over the past decade to 246 days, meaning that even by their poor standards, there are still 120 days per year you shouldn't even be outside, let alone compete in an event you have been preparing for your whole life. In fact, an American who has been living in China for 2 years and studying the subject said that during the 17-day window in August 2007 in which the games would have taken place, not one single day would have been clear enough to hold any of the outdoor events.
Great. Maybe Geb had the right idea...
Bejing Air Quality
Report Thread
-
-
The study is BS - after living in China for several years, I just simply can not believe that is true. It might not be as clear as here in the US, but, you do see blue sky with sun shine 70+% of the days each year.
Plus, this is just running for several days (2-4 weeks including your adaptation). It should not bother anyone except the super sensitive ones. Stop being a pus*y and just compete. I am pretty sure most of you guys have run in traffic where there is more pollution for the traffic. Do you stop and call it a day? -
1. In 2007 they didn't shut down the factories for weeks in preperation of the games.
2. In 2007 they didn't seed the clouds because the games were still a year away.
3. In 2007 the proud people of China knew that the eyes of the World were not yet on them as they will be in August 2008.
I will be shocked if the air quality in Beining during the Olympics is any worse than today in Los Angeles. -
Obviously I meant Beijing.
-
I really don't think the air pollution issue is such a problem. Just run the 2 days there and call it a season.
-
I saw the same thing and it worried me a bit about the games. It seems like the best athlete may not win but instead the one who can handle the pollution the best. The thing about the outside the lines report was the triathlete and bicyclist who said they competed last year and barely finished. They then talked about how many people dropped out and it was a very large number for a professional event. It will be interesting.
-
txrunner1 wrote:
The study is BS - after living in China for several years, I just simply can not believe that is true. It might not be as clear as here in the US, but, you do see blue sky with sun shine 70+% of the days each year.
Plus, this is just running for several days (2-4 weeks including your adaptation). It should not bother anyone except the super sensitive ones. Stop being a pus*y and just compete. I am pretty sure most of you guys have run in traffic where there is more pollution for the traffic. Do you stop and call it a day?
You are a tool. Randy Wilber has been to Beijing many, many times. His data clearly shows that the air quality is poor--he reports this on OTL. The American who noted the discrepancy in the air quality is an environmental consultant and notes that many stations used to gather the data have been moved OUTSIDE Beijing.
Have you lived in Beijing in the past few years with the huge increase in cars and construction?
I know many athletes who have been to Beijing and each and every one talks about the air quality issue. The people interviewed on the OTL program are very representative of the many athletes I have spoken with.
Few athletes are going to be in Beijing long before their competitions--at least ones with a high aerobic demand. One cannot adapt to air pollution.
Using the WHO data there is no comparison between Beijing and ANY US city-Beijing is far worse.
Shutting down the plants and limiting car traffic is only a partial solution. According to a climate report (peer reviewed) about 30% of the air pollution in Beijing comes from OUTSIDE Beijing. What are they going to do about that? -
a lil more in the know wrote:
1. In 2007 they didn't shut down the factories for weeks in preperation of the games.
2. In 2007 they didn't seed the clouds because the games were still a year away.
3. In 2007 the proud people of China knew that the eyes of the World were not yet on them as they will be in August 2008.
I will be shocked if the air quality in Beining during the Olympics is any worse than today in Los Angeles.
Seeding clouds does not work.
Get ready to be shocked. Of course with the Chinese hiding the numbers (and stopping the collection of some particulate matter) who knows. I cannot wait to see the Chinese declare a blue sky day and the NBC cameras will not be able to see the other side of the track. -
air quality really good beijing!
http://keetsa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/r166343_617867.jpg
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/Atmosphere/images/beijing_smog_big.jpg
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/graphics/2007/10/26/eachina126.jpg
http://www.chinaexpat.com/files/u3/Beijing_Pollution_0.jpg
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200707/r157257_569758.jpg
http://therawfeed.com/pix/beijing_smog.jpg -
Here's what will happen:
1. Air quality will be terrible during the games.
2. The Chinese government will tell everyone the air is fine.
3. Everyone who is not Chinese will cry BS
4. Communist government will be shocked and appalled that capitalist pigs would go against what they say.
5. Communist government calls for the disqualification of all athletes who refute what the leaders of China have stated as fact. -
I read an article somewhere? that mentioned the fact that it wouldn't be any worse than LA in 1984....
Does that sound reasonable? -
They held World Juniors in Beijing two years ago from August 15-20. Tariku Bekele won the 5k in 13:31, Ibrahim Jeilan took the 10k in 28:53. On the women's side, Veronica Wanjiru won the 3k in 9:02 and Xue Fei of China won the 5k in 15:31.
You're going to have to explain to me how any of this was possible in Beijing's Venusian climate. -
The OTL report said that from the numbers that they have run the air quality in beiging would be much worse than Los Angles.
-
Blown Away wrote:
I saw the same thing and it worried me a bit about the games. It seems like the best athlete may not win but instead the one who can handle the pollution the best.
This is the same with every Olympics. Was Baldini the best marathoner in the World in 2004? Nope, he just handled the conditions better than others. Same with Meb and so on and so on. -
There are conditions such as heat and humidity--for which one can prep pretty well v. air that is not healthy.
-
They should a begin training by breathing from rubber hoses attached to exhaust pipes. That should do the trick.
-
I traveled to Bejing for work recently, and the air was so thick with particulate matter that it was like walking in a dense fog. I actually thought it was fog. Lots of people were wearing surgical masks to protect themselves from the air quality. At least the athletes can leave when the Olympics are over. Those who live there are most likely dealing with some long term health implications.
-
I have a friend who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Marathons.
She went to Beijing 2 weeks ago to attend a coaching seminar for 6 days, and she said the air quality made running completely out of the question.
There you go. -
txrunner1 wrote:
The study is BS - after living in China for several years, I just simply can not believe that is true. It might not be as clear as here in the US, but, you do see blue sky with sun shine 70+% of the days each year.
Genius, he just said that "blue sky" days were at 246 -- which is just under 70%, so what the hell are you ranting about? -
chomps wrote:
txrunner1 wrote:
The study is BS - after living in China for several years, I just simply can not believe that is true. It might not be as clear as here in the US, but, you do see blue sky with sun shine 70+% of the days each year.
Genius, he just said that \"blue sky\" days were at 246 -- which is just under 70%, so what the hell are you ranting about?
I was just confirm what the Chinese government stated is true - which the OP indicate that is not.
