China talks up 'green' Olympics but prepares to fight smog

China has also said it would make the Games "carbon neutral" for the first time.

China is using the Winter Olympic Games to drive its efforts to improve the environment, but smog-prone capital Beijing is still preparing for the worst as the opening ceremony looms.

Beijing has improved its air quality since China won its bid to host the Games, but the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has said winter smog risks remained "severe".

Ministry spokesman Liu Youbin told reporters on December 23 that contingency plans were in place.