During the convention of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing this August, the government will ban over one million cars from plying on the streets in order to deal with the dual problems of traffic jam and pollution. On a notice posted on its website, the Beijing government has stated that it will alternately rule off the road cars bearing odd and even-numbered license plates from July 20 onwards.  

At the same time, it will also ban about 70 per cent of all government cars and vehicles operated by state-run enterprises during the said period. The government notice underscored that the imposing of this ban is aimed at lessening air pollution and preventing acute traffic jams. Since Beijing is among the most polluted cities of the world, this feature is posing as a great threat to the smooth convention of the Olympics.  

Infact it has been warned by Jacques Rogge, the IOC chief, that the endurance events like the marathon may get delayed to save athletes from the adverse effects of pollution. A significant number of the 10,000 athletes coming to Beijing for Olympics have expressed concern about the adverse effect of pollution on their health. As such apart from the ban on cars, even the polluting industries and factories will be shut during the convention of the Olympic Games.