"The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42 kilometres in my current condition," Reuters quoted the Ethopian runner, who suffers from asthma, as saying.
But Zhang Lijun, deputy chief of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), was quoted as saying he had full confidence in anti-pollution plans drawn up for the capital and five surrounding provinces.
"Our experts predicted that the standard of air quality can be guaranteed and the commitment we made could be fulfilled after this plan is realised," he said.
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