Particulate air pollution during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing constantly exceeded levels considered excessive by the World Health Organization, was far worse than other recent Olympic Games, and was about 30 percent higher than has been reported by Chinese environmental experts - even though some favorable weather conditions helped reduce the problem.

[Why Great Britain's success in Beijing could have been anticipated and why it should continue beyond 2012 Online First Br J Sports Med 2009; doi 10.1136/bjsm.2008.057174] Hosting the Olympic games boosts the host country's medal haul, not only during the event, but also before and afterwards as well, reveals research published ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.