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 Concerned about the potential health dangers to competitors,
swimming's world governing body FINA decided to cancel Saturday's
finals, even though the pollution readings were still just below the
levels they had set as the benchmark for continuing.
"Considering the guidelines and regulations suggested by NEA
(Singapore's National Environment Agency), and the deteriorating
haze situation today, we have decided to cancel the finals scheduled
for this evening," FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu said in
a statement.
"The schedule for tomorrow is still unchanged depending on weather
condition."
FINA had already announced on Friday that it decided to cancel the
longer distance events and had contingency plans to call off whole
sessions if the pollution levels deteriorate.
Using the NEA's Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings, which are
taken at three-hour intervals, FINA said they would cancel races if
the air quality exceeded 200, which is deemed to be in the "very
unhealthy" range.
Saturday morning's heats went ahead as planned but the PSI readings
rose throughout the day. Two hours before the start of the finals,
they had climbed to 190, so FINA decided to cancel the night
session.
"With the haze caused by the fires in Indonesia, the health and
safety of all athletes, guests, officials, spectators, volunteers
and staff remain as our top priority," said Ang Peng Wee, chairman
of the organizing committee.
"Hence, with the deteriorating 3-hr PSI reading, we have made the
decision to cancel the finals scheduled for 6pm this evening."
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Singapore has been a regular stopover on swimming's annual global
World Cup series since 2007 but has never had a session canceled
before.
Southeast Asia has suffered for years from annual bouts of smog
caused by farmers in neighboring Indonesia burning forests to clear
their land for agriculture.
The fires have been exacerbated this year by the effects of the El
Nino weather phenomenon, as a prolonged dry season in Indonesia has
parched the top soil, fuelling the flames.
(Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
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