Non Stop Olympics to Fight Air Pollution

Beijing in July

September

James Fallows argues for non stop Olympics to fight air pollution in Beijing.

I have a slight modification to propose to the International Olympic Charter. I suggest that the Olympics, and the Paralympics, be run back-to-back, nonstop, month after month and year after year -- and always in Beijing. It could be tough on the athletes, but think of the golds they could win! And with this system, the city might continue to enjoy the phenomenal blue skies and beautiful weather that have prevailed for most of the last four weeks.

When I lived in Singapore, the skies were like this for month when the forest fires burned in Indonesia. It was depressing and dull. At least it passed. Unlikely that Beijing will have blue skies again any time soon. The economic consequences of shutting down industrial facilities will be far reaching. The environmental consequencs of turning on the smoke stacks again will be even more far reaching and the impact longer term.

Smog on the Water?

Going green in Qindao is not environmentally friendly.

China has called in thousands of people to clean up an algal bloom at the sailing venue for this summer's Olympic Games, a state news agency said.

The blue-green algae blossomed around June 1 in the waters around Qingdao on the coast of Shandong province, and some 400 boats and 3,000 people have been mobilized to clean it up, the Xinhua News Agency said.

Chinese news photos showed the bright-green bloom along the shores of downtown Qingdao. Other images showed workers loading the algae onto boats as windsurfers sailed in the background. The photos also showed people wading in the water and scooping up armfuls of the plant-like organism and putting it into white sacks.

Blue-green algae blooms when nutrients, sometimes caused by excessive pollution, build up in water.

The country's three-decade economic boom has left its waterways and coastlines severely polluted by industrial and farm chemicals and domestic sewage.

No wind and an algal bloom don't make for great training for Olympic Sailors.

Based on my own experience, light wind sailing is about as exciting as watching the test card. At least it had music.

Olympic Spirit Alive and Well

Tell it as it is Lord Sebastian

He said organisers of the French leg of the torch relay through Paris should "get rid of those guys" because the Chinese officials "tried to push me out of the way three times".

"They are horrible. They did not speak English ... I think they were thugs."

A spokeswoman for the London 2012 Olympics confirmed that Lord Coe, the 1980 and 1984 Olympic 1500m champion, had made the remarks.

Doesn't sound too diplomatic.

Loony lame, 'lympic logo epilepsy link

As always, Mr Eugenides is on top of the issues of the day in the UK.

He even provides free medical advice.

We can blame Flash for this.

You can design your own logo and submit it here.

Big Woopy Doo Dah

Getting into the act is The Englishman taking a lead from the ever humorous Theo Spark, who has a poll on how long the logo will last.

What a load of dogs bollocks. Honestly, you couldn't make it up. It is, at least very amusing. Not too hot for the branding campaign however.

And ultimately, it is all about the money.