IOC Hack: Beijing Air Just as Bad as Los Angeles and Atlanta

Here's a look at the dense smog enveloping Beijing less than two weeks before the Olympics begin.

With only 11 days to go until the start of the Beijing Olympics, this was the smoggy scene in the Chinese capital yesterday.

Visibility was down to half a mile in some parts, including the National Stadium, while the Athletes' Village complex could not be seen from the nearby Olympic Green.

The athletes are in fear of the polluted air.

Now an IOC nitwit claims it's just more mist than smog and ludicrously claim the air in Atlanta and Los Angeles was just as bad.

Really?

Du was supported by Dr. Patrick Schamasch, an orthopedic surgeon who is the IOC's medical and scientific director. Schamasch said the IOC was monitoring Beijing's air. He said particulate matter on Sunday "was a little bit higher than what's expected but nothing dramatic."

He said readings for ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide fell within 2005 guidelines set by the World Health Organization.

He did not disclose the exact levels, saying it was not the IOC's practice.

"Today there is nothing critical preventing an athlete from running, except the visibility," he said. "I can tell you it's mist more than smog."

Schamasch said conditions were "not worse" than in other cities that hosted the games, mentioning Los Angeles, Atlanta and Athens.

Someone needs to clue this idiot into the fact runners might be aided by visibility. You know, in order to see where they're going.

Update: Thanks to Doug Ross for linking. He's unearthed a slew of additional photos. More also from Ed Morrissey at Hot Air.

IAEA: Terrorists Planning Olympic Dirty Bomb

It's probably safe to say every Olympics from here on out will face such threats.

Of course, they mention no possible suspects (cough, cough Islamists) nor do they have any specific information of any pending threat. Still, it's enough to cause some concern.

Chances are more likely of something happening in London in 2012.

Terrorists are trying to obtain nuclear material in a bid to cause widespread chaos at the Beijing Olympics, it has been claimed.

The International Atomic Energy Authority warned that terrorists may try and use dirty bombs to disperse radioactive materials during the high-profile event.

The UN nuclear watchdog issued the stern warning as it staged its biggest ever security training exercise in the Chinese capital.

The agency's head of nuclear security, Dr Anita Nilsson also claimed that the same threats will loom over the London Games in 2012.

"There is a threat at some level that these [radioactive] materials could be used," Dr she told the BBC.

“The awareness that these materials do exist in circulation is enough in itself to trigger the measures that we are now working together with the Chinese authorities to implement at the major venues of the Beijing Olympics."

However, the agency admitted there was no specific information about a potential or imminent terror attack.

I'm mildly surprised this toothless watchdog would even surmise there's potential for such an attack considering they've turned a blind eye to nuclear proliferation elsewhere, specifically in Iran and Syria.

Obviously the Chinese are taking this seriously, and to some surprise, so is the IAEA.

But can you imagine the reaction from China if something like this were to happen?

I suspect those complaining about our tactics in the war on terror would have their hands full chronicling the alleged violations of international law and the Geneva Convention.