BEIJING (Reuters):

China's capital is aiming for more 'good air days' in 2008 as it prepares to host the Olympics in August, a senior official said yesterday, with the city's notorious pollution a major concern for athletes and organisers.

Beijing recorded 244 'blue sky days' by December 28 this year, a day short of its 245-day target. The standard of a 'blue sky day' has not been widely recognised by international scientists.

"I predict that we will be able to meet this year's target in the last three days," said Jiang Xiaoyu, spokesman and executive vice-president of Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games at a news conference. "The target number of good air quality days in 2008 will be higher than this year."

More effort

Pollution in Beijing, known for its noxious smog, is a major concern for athletes and officials planning for next August and Olympic chief Jacques Rogge has said some events may have to be rescheduled if the air quality is not good enough.

The host city has already spent 120 billion yuan (US$16.4 billion) in environ-mental programmes to combat pollution and Jiang said there were more efforts to come.

"A new coordination plan to ensure a good environment during the Games by central government, Beijing govern-ment and neighbouring pro-vinces is going to be issued soon," he said.

Venues finished

Venues for the Games were all finished by end of 2007 as scheduled except for the National Stadium, dubbed the 'Bird's Nest' for its interlaced steel shell, where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held.

That stadium will likely be completed by March. but another showpiece venue, the 'Water Cube' aquatics centre, was finished and the pool had already been filled, Jiang said.

"The Water Cube is pre-paring for its first test event in January," he said.