Marathon world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie will not compete in his favored event at the Beijing Olympics this summer over fears that polluted air will damage his health. The Ethiopian runner, who has exercise-induced asthma, will try to qualify for the Games in the 10,000-meter race instead. Other athletes have expressed similar concerns about the breathability of Beijing, but Chinese officials continue to issue assurances that air quality will not be a concern.
source: Reuters, The New York Times, Xinhua
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Boyscientist Posted 3:54 am
12 Mar 2008
Horses and men
The US equestrian team will not send our best open jumpers and event horses. They will not compete. Only the less strenuously worked dressage horses (the flat work) will go to this Olympics. The combination of air temperatures, pollution, and the long trip is deemed to be to hazardous for our best equine athletes.
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