China Promises Environmental Improvements Ahead Of 2008 Olympics

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) -- China's efforts to clear Beijing's notoriously polluted air ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics include a test to pull 1 million cars from the streets, the International Olympic

Monday, July 2nd 2007, 5:58 pm

By: News On 6

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) -- China's efforts to clear Beijing's notoriously polluted air ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics include a test to pull 1 million cars from the streets, the International Olympic Committee reported Monday.

China's Olympic committee told the IOC Executive Board that it planned to hold 1 million cars off the roads of Beijing for two weeks in August as a test run in case a similar measure is needed for next year's Olympics, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told a news conference.

Beijing's pollution has been a key concern of Olympic organizers and Chinese officials tried to ease concerns in a presentation Monday to the IOC board.

Davies said the Chinese said they would replace 1,600 coal-burning boilers that produce energy for factories and powerplants and also would replace 50,000 taxis and 10,000 old
buses by the end of the year.