With Olympics 6 months away, dirty air clouds Beijing's prospects

With the Olympics six months away, air pollution is taking some luster off the glistening venues and the meticulous planning aimed at controlling every facet of the Beijing Games.

Athletes and coaches are talking openly about the dirty air. Dozens of countries are setting up pre-Olympic training camps in Japan or South Korea. The powerful American swim team is basing itself far away in Singapore. There are plans to test facemasks _ if not in competition, at least during training and leisure time.

Beijing has struggled to reduce the sooty mix of ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide that often blankets the city at a level five times higher …