Beijing's efforts to improve air quality have paid off, as it recorded 67 blue-sky days in the first quarter of 2008.

"There were 12 more blue-sky days than the same period last year, with the level of main pollutants falling drastically,"said Du Shaozhong, deputy director of the Beijing Environment Protection Bureau last week.

"In the past 10 years, the number of blue-sky days in Beijing has increased by 40 percent from 100 to 246, which has laid a solid foundation for ensuring air quality during the Games meets IOC standards," Du said.

In a bid to live up to the promise of staging a "Green Olympics", Beijing has launched a slew of pollution control measures.

"In the following 100 days, as we approach the Olympics, the capital, together with its neighbouring cities and provinces of Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, as well as the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, will impose severe restrictions, including a partial car ban and shutting down major pollution sources," Du said.

From March 1 this year, Beijing has also implemented new vehicle emission standards, similar to the Euro IV standard that has been adopted in Europe.

Beijing's efforts have won plaudits from the IOC. According to the IOC's top medical officer last month the city's air quality is "much better than expected". His comments were based on a study of data gathered during a tune-up event in August last year.

Although the report shows risks still exist for outdoor endurance events such as cycling, the marathon, marathon swimming and triathlon, Beijing's continuing cleanup efforts will ensure that "air quality during the summer Games will meet IOC standards", Du said in previous interviews with media last month.