Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Shock and concern: this is the reaction expressed by the organising committee of the Olympic Games in Beijing following the news that appeared yesterday in an Australian newspaper, that the local athletic delegation will not attend the inaugural ceremony.  The decision not to participate is a precautionary measure, taken by the association Athletics Australia in order to prevent possible health risks, considering the high level of pollution that even today, despite statements from the Chinese government, afflicts the capital and makes the air unbreathable.

It is the first case of a "boycott" of an inaugural ceremony because of environmental problems; the news took the athletes themselves by surprise.  They will continue training in Japan and Hong Kong until the beginning of the competitions. "Wow, you're kidding", said Jeff Ruffolo, spokesman for the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, after the news appeared. "That's the first time we've heard anything about athletes themselves pulling out of the opening ceremony", he said, without an official statement of position on the part of government authorities.

A little less than two months before the beginning of the games, the decision taken by Australian team manager Max Binnington has taken organisers by surprise. But the dangers to the health of the athletes, Binnington says, are "too high, because the level of pollution in the city endangers not only performance, but the very health of the participants".  Last month, the current marathon world record holder, Haile Gebrselassie, said he will not run because of fears for his health. "I do not want to kill myself in Beijing", said the athlete, who has asthma, adding that "the marathon will be impossible because of the pollution, heat and humidity". The Australian trainer confirms the fears of the Ethiopian runner. "We have had athletes come back from a recent test event and one athlete has got 10 days off training because of a respiratory problem", Max Binnington says. "We don't want our athletes to be undertaking that sort of risk", he says, adding that the Olympic athletes will remember the competitions rather than their participation in the opening ceremonies.

The diplomatic firestorm unleashed by the Australian coach's words represent another obstacle in the long march toward the games, a "dream" that is turning into a "nightmare", already marked by protests against the voyage of the Olympic torch across five continents, and by demonstrations by Tibetan monks. Last night, Max Binnington partially retracted his statements, emphasising that the decision not to participate in the inaugural ceremony was due to the need to guarantee a stable training environment, and not to "pollution", but this appears to be damage control. "Never was it intended to be a criticism of China, the Chinese Government or the Beijing Olympic Committee", says the Australian team manager. "We think they will put on a wonderful show and they will do anything to minimise the inconvenience for athletes".