Spanish marathon runner Jose Manuel Martinez said Tuesday that he didn't think air pollution would be an issue at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Recent pictures coming out of Beijing have given rise to fears that competitors at the Beijing Olympic Games will have to contend with low air quality as well as the heat and humidity, to which long distance runners, such as Martinez, are prone.

However, speaking at the presentation of the Spanish athletics team for Beijing in Madrid, Martinez was optimistic about air quality in Beijing.

"I want to think that the Chinese government will have done all that they can to solve the problem, when it is time for us to race. I am confident that they will do everything possible, because they know the whole world is watching and they will not want their country to look bad," said Martinez.

"It is going to be a hard marathon at these Games. More than anything marathon runners suffer from the heat -- we saw that in Osaka last year -- and the winner will be the athlete who adapts best," he said.

One of Spain's women marathon medal hopefuls, Yesenia Centero, echoed Martinez's remarks.

"I am not worried about air pollution," she said, adding that her Cuban roots could be a major factor over the 42 km course in Beijing.

"Personally, I want to say that I think the humidity will actually help me get a better placing. But the truth is, that if you have done your preparation well, then nothing can stop you," said Centero.

Juan Carlos de la Ossa, a 10,000m runner, also dismissed pollution as a factor to determine success or failure in Beijing.

"If you want to win a medal, the big thing is for you to have a good day and for your rivals to have a bad one," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2008)