Beijing marathon will go ahead despite smog, official insists
The Beijing International Marathon will go ahead as planned tomorrow, despite the heavy smog enveloping the capital, a race official has said.
The Beijing International Marathon will go ahead as planned tomorrow, despite the heavy smog enveloping the capital, a race official has said.
Parts of northern China are expected to suffer "moderate to severe" pollution at least until Monday, the national weather bureau has forecast.
The National Meteorological Centre said parts of the north could see levels of PM2.5 - superfine particles considered the most dangerous to health - above 450 micrograms per cubic metre. The US Environmental Protection Agency considers a level of 300 or more hazardous.
The air quality index in the capital yesterday rose to just over 130 - or "slightly polluted" - at 2pm. The US embassy gave a reading of 177, which US health authorities deem unhealthy and cause to avoid prolonged activity outdoors.
The marathon is one of China's biggest athletic events. The race, from Tiananmen Square to the Bird's Nest National Stadium, is open to 26,000 participants. Jeffrey Eggleston, a top US runner, and Xu Fei, a popular singer on the mainland, are taking part this year.
A staff member at the official registration office for the race said the event would "definitely" begin on schedule, regardless of the smog.
"But we will do our best to give the participants health advice and guidelines," she said.