U.S. Cyclists Michael Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed

August 06, 2008

BEIJING, China - Statement from U.S. Olympic Team athletes Michael Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed regarding their decision to wear protective masks during Tuesday's arrival at Beijing's Capital International Airport:

"Following our arrival on Tuesday, we offer our sincere apologies to BOCOG, the city of Beijing, and the people of China if our actions were in any way offensive. That was not our intent.

The wearing of protective masks upon our arrival into Beijing was strictly a precautionary measure we as athletes chose to take, and was in no way meant to serve as an environmental or political statement. We deeply regret the nature of our choices. Our decision was not intended to insult BOCOG or countless others who have put forth a tremendous amount of effort to improve the air quality in Beijing.

We are extremely honored to be a part of the U.S. Olympic Team and feel privileged to represent the United States abroad both on and off the field of play. We look forward to putting this incident behind us while we prepare for our competition next week."

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  1. On August 06, 2008 G Youngren wrote

    I was very dissapointed to see the conduct on the cycling team upon its initial arrival in Beijing. It is extremely embarrising to see a team representing the USA engage in such an insulting manner. Apparently the orientation meeting for the teams prior to departure either lack thought or credibility. I've read the appoligy on the website. It would have been better to have just apolo****ed for such poor judgement than to have included the bogus sounding explanation. There is no other explaniation other than loss of judgement! GY

  2. On August 06, 2008 Jonathan Kohen wrote

    I think the apology was one of the most pathetic things I've seen and shows how ridiculous political correctness has become. The citizens of Beijing themselves wear masks and their body will be better adjusted to the pollution. I am willing to bet not one of those people apolo****ed or was asked to. And further why do we even need to apolo****e for something like that to a country that supports the murders and fighting in Darfur. The only apology should be the IOC for giving China the games in the first place.

  3. On August 06, 2008 J B wrote

    Damnit! You beat me to it Jonathan! It's absolutley insane to think that they felt the need to apolo****e for anything. The olympics do not belong in china...ever. On top of that, why is that the US didn't boycott in the first place?

  4. On August 06, 2008 William Pettingill wrote

    The athletes had nothing for which to apolo****e. And the apology above makes no sens: They said they wore the masks as a precautionary measure not as a political or environmental states, but then they regret "the nature of (their) choices" -- what in the nature of their choice, if it was a personal precaution, is there for which an apology is necessary? The USOC should have stood up for its athletes, not hung them out to dry. Have we no backbone anymore? Why did the USOC design and supply the masks? Just to castigate and force apologies out of athletes? The so-called apology sounded like something you might hear from a captured warrior forced by captors to "confess and apolo****e."

  5. On August 06, 2008 William Pettingill wrote

    ...and Why is apolo****e appearing like it does on this website? As a test -- eulo****e.

  6. On August 06, 2008 Sebastian Onate wrote

    What a pathetic joke. The USOC is becoming more Chinese than the Chinese. It's bad enough for Communist despots to behave this way, but for Americans to do it is just embarrassing. The USOC should apol****e to the cyclists, they have enough to worry about without their own people selling them out. To the athletes: Ignore the soulless bureaucrats. Know that there are millions of us back home that support you, even if your own committee won't.

  7. On August 06, 2008 Ann Tranngoc wrote

    All five of the US cycling team should apolo****e for their bad behaviors. It is not about political correctness, it is called diplomatic and public conduct as an American Olympic competitor coming into a foreign country. Other far more famous and successful US athletes have not worn masks in public. It is completely disrespectful to the host country that the US cycling team members to put on the masks while being inside the airport. News flash to my fellow Americans who are indignant about criticisms leveled at the 5 US cycling members. The images of those moronic cyclists are all over television news in America, France, and the UK featuring: ...the American athletes arriving to Beijing.... It is an obtuse behavior in front of an international press corp. If the cyclists are so sickly, then they should not be cleared to compete in Beijing or anywhere else. The masks are intended for outdoors, not for those attention-seeking cyclists. The masks are handed out as a precaution for athletes to wear on smoggy days by many countries. Almost all the western countries gave their athletes masks, UK, France, Australia, Canada, Japan, and so on, but no one including the rest of the US team would be caught being video wearing them. Thank goodness, the camera also captured the entire US softball team without any mask on. The members of WNBA and NBA do not wear masks.

  8. On August 06, 2008 ANTHONY VINCENT wrote

    What a complete embarrassment and joke that these cyclists are! They are guests in another country and should show some level of respect for that country. If you disagree with that country's politics, pollution, or whatever then don't go or if you do decide to go don't represent the USA. Morons!

  9. On August 06, 2008 John Pierce wrote

    We are working to fix the issue with certain words not showing up appropriately.

  10. On August 06, 2008 Gregg Trueman wrote

    Well, I'm glad they apologized. I don't think they were trying to make a statement though.

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