During the games, we did not hear much about the pollution or the city’s continuing smog problems and heat issues. We did not see any athletes or spectators wearing masks to cover their face, nor did we see any protesters. NBC did not talk much about any other health concerns or issues that everyone was talking about before the games got started. This was done to make the Olympic Games and all the prestige that goes along with hosting the games continue, even in China. And although we did not hear much about any health risks or other issues, they certainly existed.

Now that the Olympics are over we can talk about the real affect that China’s pollution and weather had on the athletes and on this summer’s Olympic Games.

The smog cloud was still visible around Beijing and in many other big cities in China. The pollution and smog in China along with the mass influx of many more people into the city, caused for an increase in heat and humidity throughout the games. The AP reported that this was especially evident in the Olympic Green Tennis Courts.

According to the AP, “big-name players were sweating through practices in sauna conditions. Women’s number two Ana Ivanovic appeared exhausted during a work-out on Wednesday, doubling up on court to catch her breath. World number one Rafael Nadal and other players beaded with perspiration have been toweling off and drinking gallons of liquid as they go through their routines in the oppressive heat.”

The open aired tennis facilities were not the only place the heat and humidity were seriously felt. For the first time in Olympic soccer history, the final game was stopped thirty minutes into each half to give the teams a break. The heat and humidity were too much, soaring over 90 degrees. Officials were worried about heat exhaustion and injuries.

The heat was felt all over the country, by athletes and spectators. Although it might not have been publicized and NBC’s coverage did not highlight it, the athletes certainly felt it. Even if they did not think about the pollution or the humidity surrounding them, it was evident. Imagine Usain Bolt’s world record time in optimal conditions. Many other world records were shattered this year.  We can only speculate and guess if more would have been broken had the pollution and smog not existed.  Without the Beijing affect and with continuing technology improvements (like the Speedo LZR racer), I expect the 2012 Olympic games in London to have even more world records broken.

The decision followed buzzer-beating talks between Iraqi officials and the IOC before this Wednesday’s deadline to submit competitors’ names for track and field events. However, only two of those seven are eligible to sign up to participate in their chosen sport.

The two Iraqi athletes going to Beijing will compete in track and field. The verdict came too late for five athletes in archery, rowing, judo and weightlifting. The deadline to submit names for those sports expired last week.

Iraq’s government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press, “We want to forget all the past,” after signing the agreement at a news conference.  “We want to have real representation for the Iraqi teams and the Iraqi supporters.”

My previous post describes the situations that led to the Iraqi Olympic Team’s ban from Olympic competition.  Corruption and accusations of corruption were the main reasons, and as you can see from Ali al-Dabbagh’s statements, Iraq seems to be learning from its past mistakes and changing.

The government spokesman also said that, in the meantime, an interim committee proposed by its national sports federation and approved by the IOC would run Iraq’s Olympic organization.  For the complete article, read this link from Sports Illustrated’s Beijing 2008 Olympics section.