China air quality efforts 'a success'

Efforts by China to enhance air quality during the recent Summer Olympic Games in the capital Beijing were a success, it has been claimed.

Despite an outbreak of smog on the first day, alternate day restrictions on private car driving and industry shutdowns reportedly had a speedy effect on air pollution levels.

The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said: "Temporary measures to reduce pollution that were put in place in Beijing and surrounding provinces to guarantee clean air for the Olympics played a fundamental role in improving the air during the Olympic period."

Around 150 factories in the city were shut down during the games for environmental reasons, while others were closed due to security concerns, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Prior to the games, poor air quality was the main issue of concern from the International Olympics Committee.

The Summer Games in Beijing were opened by president Hu Jintao on August 8th 2008 and run until the closing ceremony on August 24th 2008, where the official handover to London for the 2012 Games was made.