Photo taken on May 16, 2008 shows the interior of the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium. The Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium has a seating capacity of 18,000. It has three floors underground and four floors above. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The latest move was taking 300,000 high-emission cars off its roads early this month and Beijing also announced that private cars will be banned on alternate days from July 20, depending on whether their number plates end in odd or even numbers.

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has warned it may reschedule endurance events to remove a potential health risk but now the fears seem to be dwindling amid the continual improvement of the air quality.

    The earthquake has taken off much of the country's festive mood towards the Games, but will in no way take away China's enthusiasm for hosting the Beijing Games.

    People lined the torch relay routes, unfurling the national and Olympic flags and shouting "Go China Go" and "Go Olympics Go".

    "Holding the Olympics is a century-long dream for the Chinese, and we have been preparing and looked forward to it since July 13,2001," said Deng Yaping, a four-times Olympic table tennis gold winner when she visited the children in the quake areas.

    "We have taught the children a lot about the Olympics in the last seven years, and the kids have already known about the Olympic spirit - higher, faster, stronger," added Deng, now a Beijing Olympic official preparing the Olympic village. "They really like the Fuwa (mascot) we give them, and we hope that they never give up in life and pursue their best."

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