Runner's & Triathlete's Web (RRW) Athletics: Beijing Swelters In Advance Of Opening Ceremony

BEIJING (08-Aug) -- In advance of tonight's Opening Ceremony, Beijing remains in the grip of a humid haze so thick that one could barely see the sun over Tiananmen Square this morning (see photo).

This is the third consecutive day that this Olympic host city has seen stifling humidity which has greatly reduced visibility and has left athletes, tourists and members of the media alike sweating profusely. There has not been a blue sky to look at since Tuesday afternoon.

The weather, however, has not dampened spirits here and should have little effect on tonight's festivities at the National Stadium which cost an estimated USD 300 million. One person RRW interviewed who had seen a rehearsal said that the ceremony was spectacular, beyond anything ever seen at an Olympic Games.

Competition, with the exception of some preliminary football matches, begins tomorrow morning, but the athletics portion of the Olympic program doesn't commence until Friday, Aug. 15, at 9h00 with the women's heptathlon 100m hurdles. Initial heat and lane draws will be done on Wednesday, Aug. 13.