It has been seven years in the making but the proudest moment in the history of modern China could be ruined by the one thing the Beijing authorities cannot control: the weather. Officials from the Beijing organising committee were today anxiously consulting the weather forecasting team dedicated exclusively to 2008 Olympic Games to find out whether a series of tropical storms will blow themselves out before they reach the Chinese capital, or disrupt plans for a glittering opening ceremony.

They are bracing themselves for the worst, with officials admitting they have a contingency plan, although, unsurprisingly at a Games which is in the firm grip of the Chinese authorities, it is a secret. It would be the ultimate irony, though, if athletes who were preparing for Beijing’s sweltering heat, humidity and pollution were greeted by a downpour.

If Beijing officials wanted a sample of what they could face on Friday night as the eyes of the world swivel towards the extraordinary Olympic Stadium, which will be filled with hundreds of performers in colourful costumes to signal the start of the Games, they only had to look south. In Macau, British athletes, including Paula Radcliffe, were hunkered down in their training camp yesterday, locked into their hotels as typhoon Kammuri blasted through on its way to Hong Kong.

Radcliffe, Britain’s hope for gold in the marathon, and Christine Ohuruogu, the world 400 metres champion, were among athletes who took an early rest day as Macau’s transport system ground to a halt after 90mph winds and heavy rain lashed the region. The category eight typhoon forced the shutdown of all Macau’s offices and shops by law, leaving the athletes with little else to do than rest and wait for the dark clouds to clear.

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Kelly Sotherton, who competes in the women’s heptathlon, was one of those whose training session was cancelled. “We are right by the coast and the sea is very rough,” she said. “It is torrential rain and high winds but you can’t do anything about it. It’s something that happens and affects everybody. I’m not too bothered about it because I could do with the day off.”

Plans were in place to fly the remaining British athletes yet to arrive at the training camp into Hong Kong temporarily, but dozens of Olympic officials and journalists were already trapped there, with aircraft grounded for much of yesterday, as the storm blew through.

Britain’s equestrian team, who are based in Hong Kong, cancelled their training sessions, although there were no fears of serious disruption to the competition, which starts there on Saturday. Winnie Murphy, the Team GB spokeswoman, said: “Everything is locked down due to the typhoon but the way the stables work, it is very enclosed and the horses are unlikely to hear anything outside.”

If Beijing does succumb to a heavy downpour, athletes in the high-endurance events will hope that it washes away some of the pollution that plagues the city and eases the humidity that means a drenching in sweat the instant competitors leave the comfort of Beijing’s palatial air-conditioned Olympic buildings.

Even though the authorities have forced two million cars off the road and shut down heavy industry in the city, Beijing’s skies were leaden yesterday. Forecasters warn rainfall will be heavier than usual throughout the Games but temperatures will also be higher, a factor worrying Britain’s cycling road racers who lead the chase for medals in Beijing, the men competing on Saturday followed by the women’s team on Sunday.

David Brailsford, Team GB’s cycling performance director, warns the heat will have an impact over the 106.2 kilometre route. “It’s the same for everyone and that’s the important thing,” he said. “Some people are more susceptible than others but we have done all the testing of the athletes and we have put the necessary things in place. We hope that it all works out.”

One British star unconcerned by the prospect of heat is Andy Murray. The usually pasty-faced Scot comes to Beijing this weekend after the biggest win of his tennis career at the Cincinatti Masters Series event, where temperatures often soared beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

“I’ll see what it’s like when I get to Beijing but playing here in tough matches in Cincinatti will have helped,” he said. “It’s going to be tough for everyone but you just have to give yourself the best schedule and try and do your best.”