International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said last night that he remained 'extremely calm' as the rocky road to the 2008 Beijing Olympics neared its end.
With protesters threatening further disruption on the mainland, Dr Rogge said the Olympic movement could only 'wait and see' what happened over the next 16 days of competition. 'We are just staying extremely calm' about the threats, he said after the IOC's three-day executive board meeting.
Dr Rogge again warned athletes who planned to express dissent inside Games venues to abide by the IOC's tough laws on political, religious or commercial propaganda, and demonstrations. But he also said sports stars had a 'right to be heard'.
Addressing the media for the final time before tonight's opening ceremony at the National Stadium, he said China had done everything humanly possible to clear the smog that again shrouded the Olympic Green yesterday.
'Pollution levels are coming down. It is not yet perfect, but it is safe for the athletes,' Dr Rogge said of the one issue that has plagued the IOC and the host organisers since Beijing was awarded the 29th Olympiad seven years ago.
'What they have done is extraordinary,' he said, adding that the cleanup measures were 'long-term'.