Olympic Marathon star opts out of Beijing due to pollution

"Pollution in Beijing will deprive the Summer Olympics of an international star in one of the Games’ marquee events. Haile Gebrselassie, the world-record holder in the marathon and

• perhaps distance running’s biggest name, said Monday that he would not compete in the marathon at the Olympics in August because of concerns about the effects of the city’s pollution, heat and humidity. He said he still hoped to run in Beijing in the 10,000 meters.

“The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42 kilometers in my current condition,” he said in a telephone interview with Reuters."....NY Times, 3/11/08

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