Athletes’ performances at the Beijing Paralympic Games are being obstructed by pollution, according to Rwanda team in China.

The National athletics team coach Eric Karasira told Times Sport yesterday in an e-mail that air pollution is a major concern athletes’ performances in the past days they have spent training in Beijing.

"We tried to cope up with the Beijing weather but pollution is major concern not only to the athlete (Jean de Dieu Nkundabera) but to everybody at the Games,” Karasira said.

According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the pollution in Beijing is expected not to harm the health of competitors but is possible that their performances will suffer.

Just like what was expected in the Olympic Games, some Paralympics outdoor events may be delayed in case of the poor air quality, so as to allow better performances from athletes.

Karasira further added that his athlete, Nkundabera is putting away the pollution worry to register better performances in training sessions.

"Nkundabera has made a tremendous improvement and we believe he will do better,” Karasira said, adding that the country’s sole representative has improved from 1:59:95 to 1:58:00.

The 800m Paralympics star, who won bronze four years ago in Athens will be aiming for more glory in Beijing.

Rwanda’s four representatives at last month’s able-bodied Olympic Games; Disi Dieudonne (10000m), Epiphanie Nyirabarame (Marathon) and the swimming pair of Pamela Girimbabazi and Jackson Niyomugabo failed to make any impression.

Nkundabera is expected to take part in the Men’s T46 800m race on September 14 at 4pm local time.

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