In less than a year — before the 2008 Summer Olympics opens in Beijing on Aug. 8 — China will have to overcome problems related to the world sports event, which the country hopes will showcase its rapid development and its status as a leading power in Asia. The 17-day Beijing Games will be the third such event to be held in Asia, following the 1964 Tokyo Games and 1988 Seoul Games.

China is clearly staking national prestige on the games' successful operation. It will be paramount that China do its best to create an environment, physically and otherwise, that will ensure that athletes are able to give full play to their abilities and that spectators can fully enjoy the games.

China has become the world's No. 1 emitter of carbon dioxide, surpassing the United States. Air pollution in Beijing is very severe, despite government efforts to alleviate it. The fear has been raised that participants in outdoor sports events will have a difficult time. Some national Olympics committees are considering whether to hold off on sending athletes to Beijing until shortly before the the games start. Ensuring the safety of food and water as well as sufficient water supplies and well-prepared medical services will also be crucial.