BEIJING, May 31: Mobile air-quality testing stations will be set up during next year’s Beijing Olympics so athletes and coaches can monitor pollution levels first-hand, the city’s vice-mayor said on Thursday.

Poor air quality in Beijing, one of the world’s most polluted cities, is a chief worry for many of the 10,000 athletes who will be competing here at the Aug 8-24 Olympics next year.

Some competitors plan to arrive in Beijing at the last moment before they compete to avoid the potential health risks from bad air.

But Vice-Mayor Ji Lin said visiting Olympic delegations had nothing to fear and should have confidence in the city’s air quality guarantees.

“The Beijing city government is responsible for guaranteeing good air quality during the Games and we hope that other parties have confidence in this,” he said. “In the Olympic villages and other sites we will set up mobile air quality testing stations and the information at these stations will be open to all,” he said.

He added scientists had studied air quality in Beijing during the Aug period for the past 10 years and had drawn pretty optimistic conclusions.

“For Aug last year 30 of the 31 days were standard air quality. Only one day saw air quality not up to the standard,” he said.

He added that a comprehensive plan on providing good air quality for the Olympics would be released in July or August. –AFP