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Four US Olympic cyclists who caused an outcry when they arrived at Beijing airport wearing smog masks have today apologised to Games organisers.
The four - Mike Friedman, Bobby Lee, Sarah Hammer and Jennie Reed - said that they were wearing the masks because of pollution fears, a touchy subject for the Chinese authorities.
As the Chinese capital remains shrouded in smog today, Jim Scherr, the chief executive of the US Olympic Committee, revealed that the four had said sorry.
Rest of the story here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4470968.ece
The four - Mike Friedman, Bobby Lee, Sarah Hammer and Jennie Reed - said that they were wearing the masks because of pollution fears, a touchy subject for the Chinese authorities.
As the Chinese capital remains shrouded in smog today, Jim Scherr, the chief executive of the US Olympic Committee, revealed that the four had said sorry.
Rest of the story here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4470968.ece
Welcome to Bejing, national asphyxiation championships 2008.
Let's see, the fog is so thick you can't see 100 feet in front of you... that sounds like it was probably the MOST opportune time to wear them.
There aren't many countries as hyper-sensitive to criticism as China is.
2. The American's were not the only athletes to don dust masks. Did any other countries apologize or feel pressured to apologize?
I'm no fan of china or air pollution, but wearing a mask is a big fuck you to them, and that is poor sportsmanship, IMO.
Oh, and wearing a mask in one of the top 10 smog-ridden cities of the world isn't unsportsmanlike any more than refusing to share a cab with a smoker is. It's their health. Period.
Me, I would have shown up in a full bottled-air HAZMAT suit. THAT would be a big FUCK YOU.
Why did they apologize???
Seems like everything that China doesnt like is apologized. I guess its better that way because China might not buy our products anymore if they are insulted in any possible and unlikely way..........
I think this is extremely poor sportsmanship. It is a tournament that is supposed to promote togetherness and getting along- not "We're going to win at all costs" even if it means insulting the country you're visiting.
Hmm. Competition to promote unity. Does no one else see the irony?
If China isn't using the air pollution as an advantage, they would have held the events in places that didn't have such horrible air quality.