Beijing bathed in sunshine and blue skies on Sunday, as officials dismissed concerns over the possibilities of rescheduling Olympic endurance events.

The average air pollution index rose to 35 from Saturday's 34, but was still within the "level I" or classed as "excellent", according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

A pollution reading below 50 is classed as "excellent", from 51 to 100 "fairly good", 101 to 200 "slightly polluted", 201 to 300 "poor", and over 301 "hazardous".

"From the statistics we have gathered over the past few days, I believe the likelihood of rescheduling sporting events due to air quality concerns is very low," Fan Yuansheng, MEP director pollution control, said.

"Excellent" air quality was recorded on each of the first three days of August, according MEP statistics.

As of Aug. 3, the city had recorded 152 "blue sky" days, or days with fairly good air quality.

Fan attributed the blue skies to the emissions control measures taken by the city authorities and its neighboring areas, saying they had proved very "effective".

Beijing had relocated the Shougang Group, one of China's leading steel makers and the capital's major polluter, taken half of the city's 3.3 million vehicles off the roads, halted most construction projects, built more waste treatment facilities and utilized more geothermal resources.

"Should environmental departments foresee serious air pollution during the Olympics, Beijing and neighboring areas will temporarily close more factories and pull more cars off the road," he said.

"Most of our anti-pollution measures will continue to stay in force after the Games," Fan said. Government vehicles were required to stay off the road one day a week in the latest clean air initiative.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)