posted Mar 10, 2008

I also had heard about the pollution conditions in most Chinese cities. I believe this is the final result of so called Economic development. The race to become No. 1 in the world has consumed most of good in Chinese people.

It is time for all of us to think about Environment.

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posted Mar 10, 2008

More people need to be more outspoken about China's many problems. I think Beijing was a bad choice for Olympic games to begin with - most of the news that come out of China lately point to a lot of human and animal rights abuse, huge humanitarian problems and lack of concern for environment and the county's people, not to mention their stance on Tibet... The Olympic games serve as a validation of those behaviors and will supply the Chinese government with funding to further implicate all those terrible policies. I have nothing against communism in theory, but as I have witnessed in my own birthplace, Russia, it's theories do not translate well to real life. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely"...

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posted Mar 10, 2008

Good on you Haile,
It looks like this anouncement has already given the Chinese a big headache. I wish more athletes would have the courage to make a standon this issue. I know some sceptics would argue that Haile is not ready or that Addis Abeba is also polluted. However nothing should take from the impact that his stance has on the fact that the Olympic host city is a health hazard.

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posted Mar 10, 2008

Geb is undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes of all time...

Though he's fast approaching the twilight of his career, he still some tricks up his sleeve...

I liken this situation a little to Micheal Johnson's, who achieved his greatest runs later into his career...setting marks in the 400m and 200m...his 400m time, which came very late on ( and by which time he was under huge pressure to claim the record ) will be tough to beat - however, his 200m time...err...who knows?!...don't know what anyone can do about that...

Geb clearly wants to leave a mark that may be around longer than he would be...a 2:02 marathon could be just that mark...

But it isn't going to happen in Beijing - visited the place last year and I have to admit, the pollution is omnipresent - I wouldn't want to exert meself out there...it'd be fatal...at least in my case anyway...

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posted Mar 11, 2008

Haila you are amazing
I agree his decision I heard a lot of things about Chains pollution. If he want he can do ....‘Yechalal’ .... so he will get new world record

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posted Mar 12, 2008

I lived in Beijing for about half a year. I also ran the Beijing Marathon before. Beijing is in a word the product of a environmental nightmare. China is not the place that Hollywood makes it out to be. People who travel there go through stages. The tourist stage where you are wowed by the experience. The teacher stage where you find that life there isn't that interesting. Not to mention the terrible English. In fact, the longer you stay, the more that you hate the place, the people and the pollution. I say avoid China, and the Olympics. Don't bother to go or even watch it. It really isn't worth the price in terms of money and health. When you go there, you are just saying yes to the communist party. Will there be any atheletes that stand up and protest like in Mexico City?

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posted Mar 12, 2008

If Haile Gebrselassie is not running, then it is because he is has a genuine concern for his health (being an asthma sufferer). It is inconceivable that an athlete of his stature and undoubted ability would lightly pass up a chance for a place in an Olympic marathon. Especially at this stage in his career.
I hope they do move it, and that he can run. He is a runner I have always admired.
When I say move it, I mean of course, out of China.......

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posted Mar 12, 2008

The olympics committee should look into the pollution levels of the olympics locations. Failure to do so will cause good athletes to have to lose an opportunity and this will mean an unfair advantage to other athletes. I think future locations should only be selected if they can be sure that the pollution levels will be in the safe range by the time of the events.

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posted Mar 14, 2008

Geb is a great runner and he did absolutely the right thing when he pulled out of the Beijing olympics because of air pollution. But I think that the most important reason for athletes to boycott the 2008 olympics, is the dismal record of human rights violations by the Chinese government. And we must not forget that China has played an evil role in the Darfur conflict by supporting the Sudanese government.
I hope all sports people declare their withdrawal from the olympics right now so that it be moved from China to an other country.

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posted Mar 17, 2008

Haile's descision not to run and the reason he gave is admirable. I am very glad he brought this issue to the front.
What I find puzzling is that the city he lives in, Addis Ababa, is as polluted as Beijing but I have never heard him complain about it. How come he lives and trains in Addis and can not run in Beijing? If his intent is to bring awareness to the issue of pollution, he should be just as vocal about conditions in Addis Ababa. I visited Addis Ababa twice in the last two years and, both times, on about the third day I had a nose bleed that did not stop the whole three weeks I was there. I had continuous chest pain and a burning sensation in the chest area begining about 8 am in the morning.
I am a big fan of Haile; I do wish that he would get his way with the authorities, run and win. Better yet, set an Olympic record.
Gidada.

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