Skies over Beijing clear ahead of Olympics

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 | 5:40 AM ET

CBC Sports

A Chinese policeman stands guard on the Tiananmen Square on July 28, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Andrew Wong/Getty Images)

Wind and rain helped clear the air in Beijing on Tuesday, after organizers scrambled to make last-minute emergency plans to control the smog enveloping the city the day before. Officials are hoping it stays clear for the Olympics next week.

With rain forecast for the next several days, the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau says those days should be clear. But there is still doubt surrounding whether the clarity will persist during the Games.

On Saturday, the air pollution index reached 118, a level classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sunday was one of the smoggiest days the city had seen in the past month despite the recent introduction of draconian pollution-control plans.

On July 20, the city launched a plan to have cars with even and odd license plates run on opposite days. The city has also tightened emission standards, closed factories and built new public transportation systems.

More than 250 high-emitting companies north of the city were ordered shut down earlier this month.

With the smog still lingering, Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, confirmed that Beijing would institute emergency measures if air quality is not up to par.

According to the China Daily, all construction sites and a larger number of factories could be temporarily shut down, and increased traffic restrictions could be introduced.

The the air pollution index dropped to 96 on Monday, and dropped again on Tuesday according to Du.