Athletes competing in the Olympic games this summer in Beijing may be relieved to know that pollution in the city won't likely pose any long-term threats to their health. The flip side to this news is that according to Arne Ljungqvist, a top medical official for the International Olympic Committee, their performance could still be affected by poor air quality.

"I believe the conditions will be good for athletes although they will not necessarily be ideal," the IOC medical commission chief told reporters in a conference call from Sweden. "There may be some risks," he added. "They would be associated with prolonged high risk respiratory functions. (Athletes) may breathe a lot of air that may be polluted. We may not see world records in unfavorable conditions."

Those who suffer asthma may face greater risks, leading Haile Gebrselassie a champion marathon runner, to announce he will not run the 42.195-km event out of fear for his health. Olympic officials will also be monitoring factors including pollution, heat and humidity and will reschedule any events that require significant respiratory activity for longer than an hour. Ljungqvist noted this is the first time air pollution could force an event to be rescheduled.

Athletes have been preparing in advance for the conditions in Beijing, with many choosing to train in Japan and delay their arrival to the games as much as possible.

» Reuters Environment