International Olympic Committee officials
are loath to hector 2008 Olympic host China on human rights questions,
but they are doggedly pushing Beijing Olympic organizers for answers on
the citys pollution problems.
As it studies data the Chinese provided on recent air quality tests,
the IOC insisted Tuesday it will exercise the option of postponing or
rescheduling events on days when pollution could be a health hazard to
competitors, especially in endurance events.
The IOC expects China to use contingency plans in three
areaslimiting traffic, closing down coal-fired factories and stopping
constructionif the air quality is below acceptable norms during the
Aug. 8-24 Games.
If you know you have a risk and apply a contingency, and your numbers
are not better, you may have to decide on the rescheduling of
competition, Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli said after
the IOC executive board discussed the issue in a video conference with
Beijing organizers.
Felli said experts studying the problem for the IOC have not had time to analyze the new data.
The IOC executive board was informed Tuesday that former U.S.
Olympic Committee marketing chief John Krimsky, who pleaded not guilty
Dec. 3 to child pornography charges in Connecticut, submitted his
resignation from the IOC commission on stamps, coins and Olympic
memorabilia. Former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch chairs the
commission. Krimsky, who worked for the USOC from 1986 to 1999, was
released on $50,000 bond and due back in court Dec. 20.
The IOC will
do a video conference evaluation of the five finalist bids for the
first Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Athens, Moscow, Bangkok, Singapore
and Turin, Italy, each will make presentations Thursday. The IOC
members will choose the winner in February. The Youth Olympics, for
athletes 14-18, were created to encourage teenagers to be involved in
sport and healthy lifestyles.