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The build-up to the opening of the Games next Friday has been clouded by a number of controversial issues.

President Jacques Rogge arrived in Beijing with his work complicated by a row over restricted internet access.

Now a formerly banned Greek athlete has threatened to sue the IOC is she is not allowed to compete.

Leading members of the IOC which make up the IOC's Executive Board will want to know why some politically sensitive websites were blocked despite a promise that foreign reporters would be given complete access to the web.

Air pollution also remains a big problem.

The Chinese authorities have been working on improving the dirty air that hangs over Beijing but athletes remain concerned.

Steve Roush, head of sports performance with the United States team, said he is monitoring the situation and is optimistic.

"We do have fallback plans if all of a sudden it deteriorates to the point where the health and safety of our athletes might be in jeopardy," he said.

"But I don't think that if the air quality was at that level that the IOC would even allow for the competition to take place."

Doping scandals

The IOC was going to discuss whether to allow Katerina Thanou to compete at the Games, but it seems a final decision has been delayed until next Thursday.

She was one of two Greek sprinters involved in a drug scandal that completely dominated the start of the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

She withdrew from those Games and has since served a two year doping ban given to her by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAFF).

But the IOC has reserved the right to consider her eligibility for these Games.

Ms Thanou's lawyer has threatened to sue the IOC if she is barred from competing.

The matter is muddied by the reallocation of the medals won by Marion Jones at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

The American athlete has returned her three gold and two bronze medals after admitting she had been taking banned substances.

One of her titles came in the 100m and the IOC must decide whether to promote the second placed runner instead - and that is Katerina Thanou.

(BBC)

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