Under clear skies, Beijing breathes easy
BEIJING: Days before the opening ceremony, the Beijing Olympics seemed beset with problems, none potentially more worrisome than air quality. Pollution levels remained high, despite government edicts that had removed two million vehicles from the city's streets and had closed down factories. But as of Sunday, halfway through the Olympics, the Games were operating smoothly and pollution levels have remained low, with previous days seeing either bright sunshine or clouds with sporadic showers.