Storms threaten Games opening

2008-08-03 16:20

Beijing - Storms threaten to hit Beijing on the day of the Games opening ceremony in five days time, weather forecasters warned on Sunday, while Olympic head Jacques Rogge fended off the IOC's own dark clouds.

Blue skies broke out for a third consecutive day, dissipating worries that Beijing's normal blanket of heavy smog would disrupt endurance events, as weather officials said strong anti-pollution measures had helped clear the air.

But any relief from the haze was replaced by concerns that storms would hit the city on the day of the opening ceremony, when world leaders will join crowds at the National Stadium to welcome the athletes and light the Olympic flame.

Organisers have repeatedly said rain was their biggest worry for the ceremony, which will feature more than 10 000 performers and a massive fireworks display.

But top officials from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau confirmed on Sunday that bad weather was certain for August 8, although they held out hope that the skies may clear by the time the evening ceremony begins.

"Specifically on the 8th, the weather in Beijing will be cloudy and overcast and we will see some rain showers and thunder showers," said Wang Jianjie, deputy director of the bureau.

Wang also warned that co-host cities, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai and Qingdao, could be hit by typhoons heading in from the Pacific Ocean during the August 8-24 Games.

- AFP