Storms put dampener on weather hopes for Games

BEIJING, Aug 10 (Reuters) Beijing's decision to move the 2008 Olympic Games back to ensure fine weather was made to look a little unwise after heavy rainstorms hit the capital today, almost two years to the day ahead of the opening ceremony.

The Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) shifted the original start of the Games from late July to August 8 because data gathered indicated that the chance of rain was low.

''Weather data shows that the climate in August will be suitable for the Games,'' BOCOG vice president Jiang Xiaoyu told a news conference on Tuesday.

''Historic data shows the chance of rain is 30 to 40 percent. But they have found out that when there was rainfall, 75 percent of it was drizzle.'' While Tuesday, exactly two years before the start of the Games, was relatively pleasant, stifling humidity followed on Wednesday before the first storm broke in the early hours of this morning.

Organisers are particularly concerned about the weather for the opening ceremony as plans for a retractable roof over the showpiece ''Bird's Nest'' National Stadium, where the Olympic flame will be lit, were scrapped in 2004 to reduce costs.

''In the past 10 years, August 8 has been 100 percent without rainfall,'' Jiang said.

REUTERS PM DS1250