At least one world-class distance runner has already announced his intention to skip this one, based on his belief that the polution levels could permanently damage him.

Most teams are arranging practice sessions considerably removed from the "performance areas" to avoid as much of the polution as possible.

And the latest threat to unhindered performance is the announced concern that virtually all toilets that will be accessible in the area are "squat toilets." Arrangements are being made to provide "more conventional facilities" for VIPs (the Olympic Committee of course) and to some athletes, but for the rest ...

Without cable, in the US about the only athletic event I get on TV is "high stakes poker."¹ Even a good golf match has more action ...

¹ Unless one counts screaming preachers as "athletic." Some of them do appear to get more exercise than the wall-to-wall "infomercials" on "ab-builders" and weight reducing exercise machines.

John