SYDNEY: Australia's swimming team and coaching staff have no health or pollution concerns ahead of next year's Beijing Olympics, head coach Alan Thompson said yesterday.

Alan Thompson, the head coach of Australia Swim team, attends a news conference at the World Aquatics Championship in Melbourne in this March 29, 2007 file photo. [Reuters]

Thompson and several of his staff have been on fact-finding missions to Beijing to prepare team contingency plans for the Olympics next August.

With Beijing struggling to help clear the air, Thompson says he does not believe pollution will be the problem most people envisage.

"I don't really think I have any fears. I probably did before I went there," Thompson said Sunday.

"We had some issues in Shanghai with nasal irritations which developed into a bit of sickness.

"(But) we're indoors and the village is so close (to the pool) and on the fourth ring road, so we're way out of town and you don't have the same impact of pollution as what you see on TV.

"We were there the other week and stayed in the city and had guys out running and I was out walking every day and there were no issues at all.

"I've been there four times and have had no sickness."

Breaststroke world record holder Leisel Jones is one swimmer to express a desire to tour Beijing prior to the Olympics, but it is unlikely any Australian team swimmer will go to China before the Games as it is considered "too risky" and could seriously disrupt training, he said.

Thompson said while planning is being stepped up in the countdown to the Games, Australia will not get serious about preparing for the morning finals format until after the national Olympic trials here next March.

The change in program will stretch some events over three days and impact the race preparation of swimmers, particularly if they win medals in the morning finals and have to contest heat swims later that night.

With warm down, doping controls and press conferences, swimmers may be kept at the pool for some hours after morning racing, thus reducing their rest and recovery time between sessions.

AFP

(China Daily 11/05/2007 page11)