Sand and smog

The air quality in this city is incredibly bad. It’s hard not to question the idea of the summer Olympics being played here in 2008, although I guess the venues will be on the outskirts of the city where perhaps the air will be less dense.

Part of the problem is smog, but a lot of it is sand. When the air conditioning comes on in the ballroom where the conference is held, you can taste the sand in your mouth.