Olympic Newsdesk - Pollution Worse in Beijing Games; Underage Gymnast Case Examined

A new study shows pollution at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was worse than previous Games. (Getty Images). Beijing OlympicPollution Worse Than Previous Games

Beijing’s air pollution during the 2008 Summer Olympics was worse than previous Games, according to a new study from scientists at Oregon State University and Peking University.

Pollution levels were 3.5 times higher than at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, three times higher than the 1996 Atlanta Games and twice as much as the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Although the Chinese government placed strict measures on the city to reduce pollution, weather played a bigger factor in reducing the pollution.

The pollution exceeded what the World Health Organization considered safe at times, exposing athletes to the most dangerous types of particulate matter for about 80 percent of the time.

The study did not show any scientific evidence that the pollution could cause health problems.

“It was a giant experiment and a noble effort, but in the end, the extra added measures didn’t help reduce PM concentration as much as had been expected,” American Associate Professor Staci Simonich said.

“This demonstrates how difficult it is to solve environmental problems on a short-term, local basis.”

The scientists’ study also revealed that the Chinese government’s measurements were about 30 percent lower because of a difference in methodology.

FIGCommission to Look At Underage Gymnast Charges

Dong Fangxiou is one of the two Chinese gymnasts being investigated by the FIG for being underaged at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. (Getty Images)The International Gymnastics Federation has turned its investigation of the eligibility of alleged underage Chinese gymnasts Dong Fangxiao and Yang Yun over to its disciplinary commission.

Dong and Yang are accused of being underage while competing at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where Yang was a bronze medalist on the uneven bars. Gymnast must turn 16 during an Olympic year in order to be eligible to compete.

The commission will present its decision to the FIG executive committee by the end of September, with sanctions a possibility if the two Chinese gymnasts are found to have been underage in Sydney.

Briefs…

…The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) has signed a four-year sponsorship deal with ANTA Sports to be its sole sportswear provider for 11 international multi-sport competitions for the next four years, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 London Games. The agreement also covers the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and the 2012 Winter YOG in Innsbruck, Austria.

…Australian pay-television networks Foxtel and Austar have reached an agreement to provide 24 hour coverage for all 17 days of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver on four pay channels. The two networks also agreed to broadcast the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.

Written by Greg Oshust and Isia Reaves