Beijing (PTI): A top International Olympic Committee official has allayed concerns over air pollution in the run up to the Olympics here, saying the IOC was confident that the organisers will ensure a healthy environment for athletes and spectators.

"All preparations for the Games in August are going on smoothly including measures to curb pollution," R Kevan Gosper, Vice-Chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing Olympics, said.

He said similar worries over pollution had emerged in the run up to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984 as there were more cars and less public transport and in Seoul in 1988, but they were all overcome.

"The Beijing authorities have been spending a lot of money on air quality, both as part of Beijing's needs as well as the games' needs," Gosper was quoted as saying by the official 'Xinhua news agency'.

Amid concerns over the quality of air in the Chinese capital, authorities have said USD 16 billion had been spent from 1998 to 2006 to improve the environment.

As part of intensified efforts towards clean air, pollutant-emitting factories have been shut down and public transport system has been expanded and made cheaper, a step authorities say has yielded good results.

Gosper said Beijing would also have its expertise to share with the 2012 Olympics host, London, just as it had learnt from the experiences of the Games organised in Sydney and Athens.