Just another typical preolympic beat up by the press of the host country. Obviously more people will read this article than a more positive one. As per all the others it will be the best olympics ever.

Dave Robinson, Cambridge,

I'm a little confused. Is this an algal bloom, which consists of cyanobacteria (NOT "blue-green algae"), or is this "mutant seaweed"? The two are very different - cyanobacteria are microbes, seaweed is a plant. This is a very important distinction, which I hope you will correct.

Lucy, Aldershot, UK

You can see at a glance, they should have given it France.....

Jean-Pierre, Paris,

I wonder, would these massive algae carpets be able to be taken to other areas of the world and made use of in a productive way? I am not saying I know how they could be used, but there surely must be a positive use for them? Perhaps in sandy areas as cover where erosion occurs????

anna, bridgwater,

Why China received the Games in the first place is a mystery to me. A scandalous human rights record, a repressive communist government, pollution and now this. Some Olympic teams are not even attending the opening ceremony because of pollution fears for their health. This cannot be the way forwards

AOL, Dublin, Ireland

eric put it right: a good olympics is an empty one

stefan, milan, italy

No doubt the dictatorship's leaders will soon issue an order banning all mention of green algae and threatening very severe punishment to anybody daring to publish photos of it. That'll make it go completely away. Well, the approach works with political dissent, doesn't it?

Jacques Francis, Westcott, UK

Never underestimate Chinese ingenuity, or the creativity of their chefs.

David Masu, Zürich,

Algal blooms are a natural phenomenon caused by a number of factors. They occur worldwide. Cyanobacteria (NOT seaweed or blue-green algae) have been on the planet billions of years longer than us. This has nothing to do with pollution!

Lucy, Aldershot, UK

"Everything seems to be going wrong for them in these Olympics." What a shame . . . my heart bleeds for them. NOT...you reap what you sow I'm afraid...very high polution = problems like this. Genocide of the Tibetan people = negative publicity...

Jonathan, Lincoln, UK

"However, it is very clear that, apart from a few thousand VIPs, the Chinese would prefer no foreigners to attend

Milo, SHANGHAI"

That's a great way of keeping with the spirit of the olympics alive isn't it, not!

If true, it's further proof as to why they should never have been given the games.

Alex, London,

Unfortunately this is the result of man's toxic spell on the environment - this will have have an effect on the wildlife (creating a deadzone) and the Olympics.
This is a message to China and the rest of the world - we must act now...

R Patterson, Belfast,

What with the Beijing ground to air missiles, giant pictures of Chairman Mao and now a seaweed invasion, things are looking a bit iffy! Why are the games not held in Athens each year where they belong? Keep it all in Europe.

Colin, Carmarthen, UK

"a good olympics is an empty olympics"

eric meyer, Beijing, china

to these pictures presented in this news, i am in deed very surprised about seaweed blooming. but hoding the greet games, China must provide a beautiful envirnmont and apt equipment to all friends and sportmen from all world. please trust China and her ability.

jtang, wuhan,

Surely having much more difficult conditions the sailors would love the extra challenges. It will at least make the sport much more interesting.

joe, Edinburgh, Scotland

Generally they manage to sort everything out in the nick of time. The Olympics might trip them up but don't count on it. However, it is very clear that, apart from a few thousand VIPs, the Chinese would prefer no foreigners to attend. They have enough compliant people of their own to fill the stands

Milo, SHANGHAI, China

Seems to be another good reason to boycott these Olympics!How many more "signs" do rational people need?

JJ, Auckland, NZ

I'm starting to feel sorry for China. Everything seems to be going wrong for them in these Olympics. And they're so excited about it as well. In Hong Kong I saw a clock that said "Olympics: 295 days 16 hours 24 minutes 32 seconds. They are very very excited and it is all going wrong at the moment.

James, Leeds, UK