Film artist highlights air quality problems for London Olympians

A leading film artist has collaborated with a number of environmental experts to document how poor air quality could blight next year's London Olympic Games.

Faisal Abdu'Allah has compiled footage titled Double Pendulum, which highlights the plight of a few different athletes.

The filmmaker told the Guardian that he was keen to monitor how the high levels of pollution in East London would affect the stars at the showpiece.

He looked at footballer Anthony Grant, athlete Jeanette Kwakye and martial artist Ammar Duffus, as well as a selection of 11 to 14-year-olds who live in the vicinity of the Olympic Park.

By working with the likes of professor of environmental health at the city's King's College Frank Kelly, Mr Abdu'Allah found that some competitors who consistently perform in highly polluted areas may suffer in later life.

"A lot of athletes develop asthma after their sports career is over," he told the publication.

Recently, the International Olympic Committee stated that organisers of the Games could be hit with fines of up to £175 million if measures are not taken to improve London's air quality.

Posted by Lauren Steadman