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 city’s 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 areas—limiting traffic, closing down coal-fired factories and stopping construction—if 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.