tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101405.post8120993592537609022..comments2023-11-02T07:17:33.658-04:00Comments on The Last Amazon: Beijing’s Olympic TrialsNaftalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13554950952366823858noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101405.post-66707643780912928202008-08-07T05:45:00.000-04:002008-08-07T05:45:00.000-04:00Don, I am not really sure I am your target audienc...Don, I am not really sure I am your target audience but I might consider giving it a go if you tell me how you really feel about Zionism.K. Shoshanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12533598840074182415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101405.post-12551288765737716912008-07-29T22:37:00.000-04:002008-07-29T22:37:00.000-04:00Only Australia is Cognizant of Beijing Smog Danger...Only Australia is Cognizant of Beijing Smog Danger, Sending Team from Hong Kong Training Camp for Event Only; Olympics President Asked to Remove Triathlon, Marathon, and Cycling Out of Deadly Smog<BR/><BR/>Stephen Fox<BR/>[see also: http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=53481&ret=AccountDtl.aspx]<BR/><BR/>Because of concern about air quality, most of Australia’s track and field athletes will miss the Aug. 8 Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing. With events beginning after Aug. 15, one week after the opening, Athletics Australia has chosen to hold its pre-Olympic training camp in Hong Kong. Competitors will then fly to Beijing three or four days before their events.<BR/><BR/>“As many sports have said, China presents difficulties for athletes going in and being there for a period of time,” Athletics Australia national performance manager Max Binnington. “Anything more than five or six days and they inevitably end up with some sort of respiratory problem. So that was why many of the sports who don’t have to be in there early are choosing not to go in. And the outcome is that it’s almost impossible to go for the opening ceremony.” Australia’s triathletes will also miss the opening ceremonies for similar reasons. “Most of our athletes have accepted the decision straight away."<BR/><BR/>Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Bejiing organizing committee, stated that nations could be flexible for the opening ceremonies. “Every team can arrange its schedule according to its own plan,” Sun said. “As for the environmental problems, we’ve said many times that we’re confident that we can provide clean air during the Olympic Games.” A plan for Beijing’s notoriously clogged traffic include half of the city’s 3.3 million vehicles being banned each day, using an odd-even system from registration plates.<BR/><BR/>“Generally those competing of the first day or the second day don’t march, standing up for eight hours a day or so before competition isn’t a medically smart thing to do,” AOC spokesman Tancred said. Australian and Hong Kong physicians have backed this up: see "Medical Experts Say Olympians Face Health and Performance Difficulties in Beijing's Air Pollution from Hong Kong and Australian Physicians: Even Spectators Should Worry!" at: <BR/>http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=52625&ret=AccountDtl.aspx, <BR/>an article by Tan Ee Lyn.<BR/><BR/>Despite IOC President Jacques Rogge's "Beijing air pollution cheer" a few days ago from Lausanne, Switzerland, in which he basically dismisses all of these concerns, I would like you to be aware of my latest articles, which we refer to by URL in order to bring you the photo essay on Beijing smog: <BR/><BR/>[Title: Jacques Rogge and Olympic Committee: Please move Marathon, Triathlon, and Cycling out of Beijing's Deadly Air Pollution! Carbon Monoxide, Industrial Pollution, Lead, Particulate Matter, Ozone] <BR/><BR/>http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=52987&ret=AccountDtl.aspx<BR/>_______________________________<BR/> <BR/>Please also see earlier article: <BR/>http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=52585&ret=AccountDtl.aspx<BR/><BR/>[Title: Beijing's Infernal Air Pollution Will Kill A Few Olympic Athletes; Most US Athletes Will Wear Masks While Preparing for Their Events]<BR/><BR/>If you know Olympic athletes, physicians, sports enthusiasts, and internationally minded people, please forward this to them, and to friends and colleagues. If you comprehend that we could prevent a few athletes from inevitable expiration in the Beijing smog, you can also email Mr. Rogge directly:<BR/>http://www.olympic.org/uk/utilities/registration_uk.asp?prm_action=req <BR/><BR/>Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor Santa Fe Sun News <BR/>stephen@santafefineart.com<BR/><BR/>Photo Essay: Close Up of Bird’s Nest Stadium Engulfed in Beijing Smog: <BR/>http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01JI8wJ5zmffG/610x.jpg<BR/><BR/>http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/07/10/a-month-before-the-olympics-beijing-still-failing-air-quality-test/ <BR/><BR/>http://thinkorthwim.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/yutian-pollution.jpg <BR/><BR/>http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/25/beijing_narrowweb__300x375,0.jpg <BR/> <BR/>One by my wise sardonic friend, James Fallows, Washington Editor Atlantic Monthly:<BR/>http://www.chinaherald.net/uploaded_images/BJpollution-761160.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com