The London Olympics are set to be at the center of a major legal row just before they open in the summer of 2012.
The problem is London’s pollution. It scores as one of the lowest for air quality among EU capitals and it’s going to miss the emissions targets set for it.
It’s not the only city. Actually many cities across the UK are failing to meet the 2015 deadline for cleaning up their air. Some cities won’t make their targets for years. London looks like it won’t make its target until 2025. The deadline was originally 2010 but the EU extended it for five years after numerous complaints.
The European Commission may rule that London is breaking the rules and could take action on June 2012, a month before the Olympics open. What that action will be is unclear, but it will certainly be embarrassing for Olympic organizers.
Beijing drew criticism for its high levels of pollution when it hosted the Olympics in 2008.
Having lived in London, I found the pollution quite noticeable during my day-to-day round. I can only imagine what effect it would have on an athlete trying to win the gold and break a record.