The potential effect of China’s pollution on the 2008 Summer Olympic Games is becoming more and more obvious, as the world record holder in the men’s marathon stated a few months back he will not compete due to pollution, and now the woman’s world record holder says that the pollution could force her to wear a mask when not competing.   Yesterday, Paula Radcliffe stated that the use of a mask while in Beijing may be necessary to help keep her asthma in check.   In an interview with BBC Radio, she said,

“I think the biggest factor is going to be runny eyes, runny nose and sore throat after the event - and if things go according to plan in the race, I don’t particularly care. The biggest thing for me is to make sure my asthma is under control - which it is - and minimise the effects of pollution in the lead-up to the race.” [news.scotsman.com]

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Olympic dreams have hit Afghanistan as four Afghani athletes train for the upcoming 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. The fractious, war torn country has never won Olympic medal, but hopes are high that one of its competitors can bring home some glory to a nation badly in need of an injection of solidarity and pride.

Rohullah & younger brother brother Habib Nikpah will be competing in Tae Kwon Do. Sprinter Masoud Azizi (pictured above) is hoping to bring home the gold in the 100 meter dash. Track star Mehboba Ahdyar, the sole female on the national team, is training hard for the 1500 & 3000 meter events. Ahdyar has received death threats on her mobile phone for being a female athlete. These Olympians are an inspiration in their courage and determination to compete on the world stage despite the numerous obstacles they’ve faced in their troubled homeland. You can see more images of them in this photo essay on Foreign Policy magazine’s website.

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Things don’t seem to be getting any better in China as a deadly riot broke out on Saturday In Beijing.

A peaceful monk-dominated demonstration gave way to angry looting/arson/chaos/etc. over the past few days, and now the streets of Lhasa are full of tanks and teargas and fires. [Jezebel]

The chaos is being blamed on many including followers of the Dalai Lama which China accused of “masterminding the uprising, which shatters its carefully-cultivated image of national harmony in the build-up to the Beijing Olympic Games.”

One of those “followers” is Bjork who, last month shouted “ËœTibet, Tibet’ after singing her song “Declare Independence” at a concert in Shanghai. The Chinese Culture Ministry said her actions “broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people’s feelings.”

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Actor George Clooney is speaking out on behalf of China’s foreign policy in Sudan. Omega Watches is one of the worldwide Olympic partners for the Beijing games and Clooney is a promoter of Omega.

“I have talked with Omega (about China) for over a year and will continue to talk to Omega,” Clooney was quoted as saying on the BBC Web site on Tuesday. “I have and will go to the places I and China do business and ask for help.”

Clooney has publicly spoken several times about the crisis in Darfur, Sudan, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and about 2.5 million people displaced in three years of fighting between African rebels and government troops allied with Arab militia known as janjaweed.

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Steven Spielberg has decided not to serve as the artistic adviser for the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing due to the fact that the genocide continues in Darfur. In a statement released today, Spielberg said

After careful consideration, I have decided to formally announce the end of my involvement as one of the overseas artistic advisers to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. I have made repeated efforts to encourage the Chinese government to use its unique influence to bring safety and stability to the Darfur region of Sudan.

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