Beijing comfortably cool, air clear

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing was sunny on the fourth day of the Olympics on Tuesday, with a light cloud cover and the temperature a comfortable 22 degrees Celsius (72 Fahrenheit), down from the mid 30s at the weekend.

Pollution had been a nagging worry in the weeks leading up to the Olympics but rain overnight helped wash away more of the grime after thunderstorms on Sunday and the air was clear.

A third of cyclists dropped out of the men's road race on Saturday blaming the suffocating and dirty air.

In Hong Kong, host of the Olympic equestrian events, it was 28 degrees Celsius (82F) and cloudy with a few showers forecast and a maximum temperature of 30 degrees Celsius (86F) expected.

Tuesday in Beijing is another big day in the pool where Michael Phelps will reach the joint top of the list of all-time Olympians if he wins his ninth gold medal in the 200 meters freestyle.

(Editing by Jon Bramley)