Singapore  - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge reassured students on Saturday that Beijing's air pollution presents no danger to the health of athletes competing in the August Olympics.

In-between updates on preparations for the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in Singapore in August 2010, Rogge engaged in a question and answer session with students at Victoria Junior College.

"There is no danger" to the athlete's health from the air quality, Rogge said. But he added that the performance of some of the athletes may be "slightly reduced."

The statements echoed those made in an IOC report on Beijing air quality issued almost three weeks ago.

Beijing plans to partially shut down industry in the capital and surrounding provinces in addition to cutting down traffic during the August 8-24 Olympics.

Although marathon record holder Hale Gebrselassie said last month he would not participate because of pollution, Rogge said he could change his mind.

Noting Gebrselassie suffers from asthma, Rogge said, "He decided so far... We don't know how things" will eventually turn out.

Sergei Bubka, on the IOC executive board and accompanying Rogge, urged countries against boycotting the Olympics because of the unrest in Tibet.

"It was my dream to win in 1984," said Bubka, a former pole vaulter from Ukraine. The Soviet Union boycotted the Los Angeles games that year after the United States boycotted the Moscow games four years earlier. Bubka eventually got his only Olympic gold in 1988.

There have been calls to boycott the opening ceremony, but so far neither sports federations or politicians want a boycott of the sports competition. Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, does also not endorse a sports boycott at the Games.

Rogge, who arrived in the city-state Friday, is making his first visit since Singapore won the bid over Moscow to host the inaugural YOG in 2010.

A signing ceremony for the host city contract was witnessed by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who also hosted a dinner for Rogge and his delegation.

In a whirlwind of activity, Rogge also visitied various YOG venues incuding the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and the Singapore Sports School.

Following his three days in Singapore, Rogge heads to Beijing for IOC executive board meetings. (dpa)