Cloud Nein

Beijing Promises Rain-Free Olympics

Forget the rain dance. China will fire rockets at the sky to scatter any rain clouds before next year's Beijing Olympics, according to the China Meteorological Association. Organisers have guaranteed perfect weather for the Games in August, but had not made clear how they would make good on its prediction. The Chinese capital, which is chronically short of water, is adept at firing rockets into clouds to prompt a downpour, but organisers concede rain prevention is a much tougher prospect.

FOOTNOTE: Faster, higher, drier.