Presser on air quality; athletes arrive; equestrian horses arrive HK

(26 Jul 2008) FILE: AP Television Beijing, 11 March 2008 1. Wide of buildings and traffic in smog 2. Mid of buildings in smog AP Television Beijing, 26 July 2008 3. Wide of officials arriving for news conference 4. Cutaway of reporters 5. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Du Shaozhong, Deputy Director of Beijing MunicIpal Environmental Protection Bureau: "The conclusion is, we can guarantee good air quality during the Olympics and we can guarantee athletes good air environment as well. What's more, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and relevant medical committees have already concluded that Beijing is able to guarantee the air quality." FILE: AP Television Beijing, 17 July 2008 6. Wide of traffic police monitoring station 7. Close-up of monitoring camera 8. Mid of screen showing traffic situation AP Television Beijing, 26 July 2008 9. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Du Shaozhong, Deputy Director of Beijing MunicIpal Environmental Protection Bureau: "After one week's implementation of strict measures and one month's car ban, it has been very effective now. But it also reminds us of another issue, that is, we should continue these policies and bring the effects to its maximum." FILE: AP Television Beijing, 11 March 2008 10. Mid of road traffic AP Television Beijing, 26 July 2008 11. Various of Italian athletes pushing luggage trolleys 12. British canoe slalom athlete Campbell Walsh walking out of arrival door carrying his kayak 13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Campbell Walsh, UK Olympic Slalom Canoeist and Silver Medallist in the Athens games: "I hope so, I haven't opened up the kayak bag to see, but I had a little feeling and it doesn't look like there's any dents or breakage, so yeah, all good. Because that's my race boat there." 14. UK Canoeing Team Leader John Anderson carrying boat 15. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Anderson, UK Canoeing Team Leader: "Yeah, well here we are and we've arrived, all safely - our three canoe slalom athletes. As you can see behind us our canoes and kayaks here made it safely as well - which is always a bit of a worry. But British Airways have looked after us well and it's really exciting. We're just going to pack up now and get to our venue." 16. Campbell pushing cart and carrying kayak past security guards POOL Hong Kong, 26 July 2008 17. Various of KLM plane carrying Olympic Equestrian horses taxiing on tarmac 18. Horse cargo being loaded off 19. Wide of cargo door being opened 20. Pan right of horses inside cargo 21. Various of horses being moved into large trucks 22. Close-up of horse inside cargo 23. Workers closing door of cargo STORYLINE: Beijing is able to guarantee good air quality for athletes during the forthcoming Olympics and measures taken to reduce air pollution will be continued, a top Beijing environmental official told a news conference in Beijing on Saturday. "We can guarantee good air quality during the Olympics and we can guarantee athletes good air environment as well," said Du Shaozhong, Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau. "What's more, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and relevant medical committees have already concluded that Beijing is able to guarantee the air quality," Du added. Some athletes had reportedly decided not to attend the Beijing Olympics - which will open on August 8 - because of the bad air quality in Beijing and others were planning to wear masks during the Games, some reports said. Beijing's polluted skies have been one of the biggest worries ahead of the Olympics, prompting authorities to take drastic steps. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...