BEIJING, Aug 6 -- Beijing's air does not pose any health risk for athletes, officials and other visitors, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Tuesday.

The photo taken on Aug. 1, 2008 shows the white cloud  floating above the No.1 court of the Beijing Olympic Green  Tennis Court in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua Photo)

Dispelling all fears over overcast and hazy skies in the city, the IOC said data on Beijing's air quality is being assessed on an hourly basis.

Haze does not mean poor quality air, a senior Beijing environmental official said a week ago.

Arne Ljungqvist, chairman of the IOC medical commission, said at the ongoing 120th IOC session Tuesday: "We are using World Health Organization (WHO) standards for evaluation ... They are fairly tough to meet, but in many aspects, Beijing does."

"I am sure and confident that the air quality will not pose any major problem to the athletes and visitors."

Praising Beijing's green efforts, Sarah Liao Sau Tung, environmental advisor to the Beijing Olympics organizing committee (BOCOG) said the city had created an "unprecedented environmental legacy", which will benefit millions of people in the days and years to come.

With just three days to go for the Beijing Olympics, a section of the international media has raised the bogey of Beijing's air quality again, saying it fails to meet the WHO standards.