2008 Olympics and Safety Issues

An extravagant four-hour opening ceremony kicked off the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing at 8:08 p.m. 08/08/08 (August 8, 2008) Friday, highlighted by a sweeping review of China’s 5,000-year history. The number 8 is considered lucky by the Chinese.

There were anxious moments as skies remain hazy skies for the greater part of the day. But the sky cleared as the appointed hour (8:08 p.m.) approached. An audience of 91,000 filled the Beijing National Stadium, cheering as 15,000 performers danced and marched in perfect unison to the synchronized beat of hundreds of drums.

The night sky turned bright with the exuberant brilliance of 29,000 fireworks as 16,000 athletes representing 200 nations paraded through the stadium.

"The historic moment we have long awaited is arriving," Chinese President Hu Jintao told the 80 world leaders attending the event, including U.S. President George W. Bush. "The world has never needed mutual understanding, mutual toleration and mutual cooperation as much as it does today."

More than 100,000 security personnel kept the capital safe, and the rumored terrorist attacks did not happen. Stores were shut down. In an effort to keep traffic controllable, millions of workers were given a one-day furlough.

But despite all the efforts to achieve a “wow” factor, there remain undercurrents of concern during these Olympics.

China’s years of efforts to reduce air pollution in time for the Olympics has cost the country $17 billion since its successful bid to host the 29th Olympiad in 2001. Yet on Friday, the haze continued to hover over Beijing (some choose to call it “Grayjing”). Air quality hit 94 on the air pollution index: a “fairly good” level, said the official New China News Agency, but close to dangerous levels, using World Health Organization standards.

There have been recent reports that air quality in Beijing is better than New York. But a scientist intimately familiar with pollution measurements in China and the U.S. says otherwise. That report used readings taken in the most polluted sites of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and then compared the data with that of traffic stations in the remote suburban districts of Beijing.

Members of the U.S. Olympic cycling team had to apologize to the organizers for wearing masks when they arrived at Beijing airport Wednesday. They had to declare they meant no insult and wore the masks solely for health reasons. The apology may have been necessary, but the athletes’ concern about the air they breathe is real and valid.

Aside from air quality, there is also concern about the food grown in contaminated soil and water from tainted aquifers. The World Health Organization has distributed brochures cautioning all visitors to Beijing and the Olympic sites about the food and drinking water.

The Games will run from Aug. 8 to 24. It will be a long two weeks.

Safety Tips:

* Avoid eating raw food; make sure food is not undercooked.

* Stay away from contaminated drinking water. This includes the ice put in cold drinks.