A day before the Games, a BBC reading suggested Beijing's air quality was far below World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
It put levels of particulate matter (PM10) at 191 micrograms per cubic metre. This far exceeds the WHO target of 50 micrograms/cubic metre, and also exceeds the WHO target for developing countries of 150 micrograms/cubic metre.
But Mr Rogge praised the Chinese authorities for having done "everything that is feasible and humanly possible to address this situation".
"What they have done is extraordinary," Mr Rogge told reporters.
He said there was "absolutely no danger" to the health of athletes taking part in events that last less than one hour. But he said if the pollution was bad, events which lasted more than that could be shifted or postponed.
Mr Rogge urged reporters to distinguish between fog and pollution - a point, correspondents say, often made by Chinese authorities.
"The fog, you see, is based on the basis of humidity and heat. It does not mean that this fog is the same as pollution," he said.
[So - fog and pollution is not the same as smog or pollution. Fog is better for you.]
He also said that China's efforts to clean up the air around Beijing would "continue and have a lasting influence on the climate of Beijing".
Separately, Mr Rogge said athletes would be prevented from making any political statement or protest in official venues - in accordance with Rule 51 of the Olympic charter, which forbids athletes from making political, religious, commercial or racial propaganda.
But he said they were free to do this in protest areas provided by Chinese authorities, and that "common sense" would be used to judge violations.
He spoke after more than 40 Olympic athletes signed an open letter to President Hu Jintao urging China to respect freedom of opinion and religion, particularly in Tibet.
The letter urged China "to protect freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of opinion in your country, including Tibet".
[to read the rest of the BBC article, click on the title link]
But it's ok, they are just beginning to industrialize and since everyone else who industrialized made pollution, its ok they do the same because everyone else did!
Yeah.
pollution
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