China vows to win pollution race

March 11, 2008

The Ethiopian runner suffers from asthma and says air pollution could damage his health. He will still compete in the shorter 10,000 metres event in the August Games. Gebrselassie's decision highlights the pollution problem in Beijing after International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said last year that the marathons or the cycling distance events could be rescheduled if conditions were too bad.