A Brief History of Olympic Air Quality
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1 min read
Air quality is always important, but it’s especially crucial when you must perform extraordinary physical feats. Let’s look at the history of air quality and the Olympics. What were some of the concerns and what available resources were used to mitigate them?
1984: Los Angeles
Smog and car exhaust from the infamous LA freeways has been a longstanding concern. It’s possible that LA’s position as host for the 1984 Olympics triggered a clamor for better air care enforcement, because 4 years later, Governor George Deukmejian signed the California Clean Air Act.
1992: Barcelona
Due to Barcelona’s manufacturing infrastructure, the city struggled with pollution. However, the steps the Spanish took to improve the city’s sustainability and control emissions sparked a desire for other countries to improve.
1996: Atlanta
For the 1996 Games, Atlanta placed restrictions on public transport services to reduce pollution from car exhaust.
2000: Sydney
The Australian government not only thought about outdoor air quality, but protected indoor air quality, as well. As they constructed new sites for the Olympics, efforts were made to use non-toxic materials, such as natural insulation, and non-toxic paints and cleaning solutions.
2008: Beijing
The Chinese government took great measures to improve Beijing’s air quality before and during the Games. They closed down many chemical plants, reduced private traffic by 50%, and temporarily disbanded 70% of government vehicles in efforts to reduce airborne pollution.
2024: Paris
Paris is taking innovative steps to improve and protect its air quality for this summer’s Games. The city partnered with Areophile to install huge air purifiers around the village where Olympic athletes are staying. These massive pollution vacuums filter 95% of fine particles in the air to provide better breathing air for athletes and passersby.
Sources:
How L.A. Stuck the 1984 Olympics - LAmag
Microsoft Word - 199b-AJEScorbyauth2 (thescipub.com)
Paris 2024 Olympics: Aérophile’s Giant Air Purifiers Can Suck Pollution - DirectIndustry e-Magazine
