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Beijing Olympics organisers denied manipulating pollution statistics today as thick smog worsened in the Chinese capital with just 12 days before the opening ceremony.
The first batch of Australian athletes were due to arrive in Beijing tonight to be greeted by a wall of pollution that has built up in recent days.
Australian Olympic team officials who arrived in China several days ago confirmed visibility had worsened around the Games precinct with the Main Press Centre, once visible from the athletes’ village, now hidden by the smog.
The past three days failed to reach the acceptable levels of air quality predicted in Beijing with hot, humid and still conditions ensuring the pollution lingers.
Du Shaozhong, vice director of Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, today said the unfavourable weather conditions had inhibited the positive effect of traffic restrictions imposed last week and insisted it would improve.
“The weather condition in the past several days is not very favourable for the control of pollutants,” said Du.
“The control measures are very effective but it takes time to see clearer results out of these control measures.
“I have mentioned that we have some unexpected results. Some people are trying to doubt whether we have real improvement or even doubt our statistics and data.
“I believe the air quality will definitely be improved during the Games.”
The Beijing government has spend $17 billion on environmental improvements and while they have made significant advances on air quality it still remains the biggest challenge ahead of the Games.
Du said there were “back up” plans should the unfavourable weather conditions continue but would not reveal what further restrictions would be imposed.
“The so called extreme weather condition is the weather condition like these days which are not favourable on the control of the pollutants,” he said.
“On that extreme weather conditions, we will take tougher control measures to guarantee the air quality. We are on the track of air quality control.”