Lets be honest, it was a political statement. Only a fool would waste time argueing otherwise. It's rude to the host nation too. Kind of like turning up to someone's house and acting like you owned the place. It was an adolescent stunt and I bet they feel pretty foolish.

gary, london,

why are people so mad about this???

theyre just 4 athletes concerned about the air quality. they probably apologized quickly because they never meant to be disrespectful to anyone.

maybe i am naive but i take them at thier word. and what does being american have to do with anything???

tyler, seattle, united states

So these athletes should have arrived in an overpolluted city and thankfully breathed in air that compromises their abilities to compete? So what if it was a statement. Pollution effects all of us (i.e. Climate Change) not just the Chinese.

Jean, Austin, Texas, USA

Oh who cares if they wore masks??? I lived in Queens, NY and every single day Asian women wore masks on the busses and subways. I didn't care. I didn't think they were trying to make any kind of statement. I didn't really even think about it. Does that make me ignorant for not wondering why?

claire, los angeles, usa

What winds me up is that it seems OK if the residents of Beijing have to live in that environment after the Games - pressure should be put on the Chinese to sort out the pollution, rather than just fixing it temporarily for our precious western athletes.

Richard Williams, Manchester, UK

I am so sick of political correctness. Why on earth did the IOC ever award China the Olympics ? It spelt trouble from the beginning. Why should those athlets have to apologise and breathe in all the filthy smog. The only good thing Chinas has done is to refuse to allow Mugabe to attend the opening.

Olivia Thompson, Cape Town, South Africa

Hmmm is it my imagination that all these courier cyclists I see in London are wearing masks in protest about something, or just plain old for the good of their health. No need to apologise to Boris or Ken - surely.

Jim, Norwich, uk

Spoiled children. Lol. The masks made in China.
And who is kidding who? The fact that the masks are black is not chance. It's a clear protest against China itself, NOT air pollution. I live in Asia, and I NEVER see black masks. Never. It was a political statement by naive, spoiled Americans.

TomRoberts, Tokyo, Japan

You guys need to settle down and stop being ignorant of the small picture of what you 'imagine' to see in China. Besides, honestly, how many of you have EVER been to China? I think you are just following a hype that feeds on ignorance, intolerance and lack of self-opinion. Most of you are sheep!

Michael Hoffmann, Freiburg, Germany

All we need now is for Michael Jackson to arrive in his mask and oxygen tank.

Louise, Wendover, Bucks

Hypocrites! I guess they did not participate in the 1984
summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where the air was
so wonderful smog free????
Also, would not be surprised to see a good percentage
of the total USA olympic team have a puff on a cigarette
once in a while????

Lutzito, Boston, USA

Some journalists have been recording air quality as around 250 ppm this week in Beijing. WHO recommendation is 50 ppm. Has been as high as 384 ppm. Don't blame them for wearing masks. And why should you have to apologise? Stop grovelling to the Chinese.

Colin, Birmingham, UK

I would have been more impressed by them if they had stood up to their managers and refused to apologise. I trust their spinless response will be mirrored in their sporting achievment.

Alan, Durham, UK

Colleagues who travel to China on a regular basis complain about the poor air quality and many of us have experienced severe asthma attackes in the past year and refuse to travel again. Athens and LA also experienced poor air quality or has everytone forgotten?

Kerry Diamond, Hereford, UK

To get off the plane in Beijing wearing masks was disrespectful to the host. If the cyclists had any common sense or understanding of how things work in the real world they would have realized this and kept the masks off at least until they got off the plane and outside the airport.

ruari, new york, new york

the asian people usually wear masks when they have a cold so that they won't make other people sick.

erdem, istanbul, turkey

Idiots! I won a bet with friends when I said they would be made to look foolish.

I'm off to enjoy my (paid for) coffee. Yep, I bet big.

John, London,

I wouldn't apologise......and I hope they do the cycle races wearing scuba breathing gear.....let the Chinese put that in their pipes and smoke it. Hmm....maybe that's what the problem is already! Honestly though, I don't know how people can live in such a hazy, dismal place.

Nigel, Lincoln,

well, that doesn't surprise me at all. I live in London and I saw a group of americans wearing masks here. If they do it here, it really doesn't surprise me that they did it there. And I agree that they should have waited till they were outside and could feel the air for THEMSELVES.

Maria, London , UK

Such Nice guys will finish last .They should stay in home lab tank and not in Beijing Olympic .Can visitor wear such masks to enter US airport ?

s leung, Melrose, scotland

I agree that the athletes have a right to wear masks.

However, I must say that the pollution in china in general, is driven heavily by foreign demand for consumption goods.

Matthew, Montreal,

China is an old country ridden with natural and human distasters. If China hadn't increased their manufactering this quickly, many more people would live in poverty and China wouldn't be the great country it is today.

Michael Hoffmann, Freiburg, Germany

I agree that China still has many problems to fix, but I would like to see anyone of YOU turn a communistic country around so well like them. Living with bad air is a price I would pay for living at all. Everyone should just lay off China. Instead of criticizing them, here's a thought: Why not help?

Michael Hoffmann, Freiburg, Germany

If they are so concerned about their health, why bother even go to Beijing, the other 10000 athletes are doing just fine without the masks. It is fine as a regular tourist to wear a mask, but they are representing the US now, it is clearly a ill-motived stunt in bad taste. Apology is a good start.

Snow, Texas, USA

Wearing the mask in the airport is ridiculous! Were they planning to wear the mask in cycling competition too?! Maybe they should bring their own oxygen tanks. If they are so afraid of the pollution, why go to Beijing Olympic at all!

Hazel, Mountain View, USA

The govt has tried their best to improve the environment, even made lots of inconvenience to native people for banning their car on the road etc It's funny that some worry 4 the health issue while staying for only 2 weeks. They should know our athletes trainning in such situation every day!!

Megan, Beijing,

That's nothing, wait till they have to appoligize because they end up vomiting during the races because of the polution.

throbo, JUPITER, usa

Is it not typical for some people of beijing to wear these masks on a daily basis?? And why were the Chinese offended? Are they under the impression that members of the int'l community will now think Beijing has a pollution problem?

Seems as if the Chinese don't want to accept the truth

Tim, Phila, usa

The Soviets and Nazis had games so somebobdy probably figured....hey....

What bothers me is that someone pressured the athletes to produce an "apology" that was immediately PR'd to death.

You know what would be good PR for China? Clean air and natural rights.

Stan, Chicago, USA (not the South)

There should be no apology to anyone, but who said Chinese demand them to do this? If it is such a big issue, why didn't we see GW Bush wear a mask? Is President's security much less important then those atheletes? Perhaps we should just send Lou Dubb and his alike to attend the Olympics in Beijing

Sam, Los Angeles, USA

It is time to quit pandering to the Chinese over THEIR air pollution. If pollution was at that level in U.S. or U.K., the entire country would be shut down! Why aren't the photos showing Chinese wearing masks in Beijing? I have seen Asians wearing masks from Hackney to Manchester, sans apology

Bob Evans, Anaheim, California

The Chinese organizers should not be "annoyed" that the best athletes from around the world care about protecting their health. The olympics is about the athletes, not one country's ego.

Steven, New York, USA

Consider a little history. In 1904, the third Olympiad was held in St. Louis, Missouri. Not so far from the Ohio, Pennsylvania, oil and manufacturing belt. I am guessing those states looked a lot like many industrial cities in China today.

Richard, Chicago, USA

I don't know how many of those who talk about the air pollution in Beijing has really been there, but it seems that what they have said is very influential. People believe in what they like to believe in. That's just it.

Xiao, San Diego, USA

I dont see why the US Olympics cyclists would have to apologize for wearing those masks. I travel to Beijing every other month for work from Shanghai, and each time, the smog there is so bad to the point that I refuse to go outdoors unless it's absolutely needed to.

Evelyn, Shanghai,

American ignorance really really boggles my mind at times. No, I'm not Chinese, but I am Asian American. Most of these comments display a base ignorance of not so obvious truths; and yes this does reveal the absurd sense of "entitlement" Americans feel they deserve wherever they seem to go.

Charles, California,

Sorry!! Thats ridiculous!! Thats like saying im sorry i wore the condom when we had sex because i wasnt sure about your past!! They are just being safe. If they feel they need to wear it then they should wear it and they shouldnt be apologizing.

kenneth , Nashville, USA

China should have never been given the games. Not because of thier human rights record, or the lack of personal freedoms..... But for the terrible conditions the athletes will have to endure. I wouldnt be suprised to see a marathon runner drop down dead.

Sean, London,

Another typical example of US citizens having absoluelty no tact or idea of how offensive they can be to the rest of the world.

Pedro, Reading, UK

I agree with Joan

James, Chicago,

Way to back peddle on wearing masks. How weak.

Greg, Costa Mesa, USA

Bravo! The Chinese lied to get the Olympics, promising to clean up its act both environmentally and politically. They did neither. The smog in Beijing is a health hazard. The Chinese people may live in fear of its government but the rest of the world will not.

Roger, Ottawa, Canada

If they had worn the masks after they had experienced the air I wouldn't mind, but to do it before you even know how the air quality rates is in poor taste. It seems like a political stunt first and then one for self protection.

Ronald, Fort Worth TX, USA

What is the problem? Here in the States, I see Asian people walking around in masks all the time. I have even seen the Beijing locals wearing them.

Um Beijing your air is polluted, it's a fact. Don't get all pouty when somebody doesn't want to breathe it.

Josh, LA,

Air- borne particulates cause acute problems in athletes, who need the highest oxygen balance achievable legally. Organic matter that is inhaled, OR ingested, requires oxygen to metabolize, thus leaving less available for muscle function and other organ functions. See Chronic Oxygen Debt Syndrome.

Teri, Rosenberg, US

Sandra from Canada said: "Every country (including the US itself) ...hide[s] truth from citzens...." Nice one, Sandra. I would say that the level of control and restrictions on free speech, etc. are the same in China as in the USA. Pull your head out of your you-know-what.

Stephan, Costa Mesa, USA

The best thing that is happening in China are the US companies funding the factories which are creating a middle class which is going to be the biggest factor to bring down the Chinese Dictatorship. The clean air will come next...

Joe, California,

The United States has a lot to apologize for (like Iraq, racism, global warming)... but this is pretty trivial stuff.

Tom, St. Louis , USA

All we're doing by giving them the Olympics is condoning their abysmal human rights record. I would be more concerned with drinking their water. They've repidly turned their river systems into fetid streams of indistrial and untreated human waste

Jeremy, Washington, USA

How ridiculous,to have to apologise about trying to protect ones lungs from air pollution!!!

Jean , London, England

Why should American athletes be expected to suffer or apologise as a direct result of Chinese failure to deliver the Olympics to the standards on which it was awarded the right to host the event???

Ed Geraghty, Abergavenny, Wales

I agree with Samantha that they were wearing the masks inside the airport in order to send a message/make a statement. They could have waited until they were outside. With all due respect to the athletes, I don't think the Olympics are the proper venue for protest. Leave it to their coaches.

Gregg, California,

So will they have to apologize if they collapse in an event due to the pollution? Then someone will probably suggest that they wear a mask!! It's a disgrace that any athlete from any part of the world should have to compete in such polluted conditions.
Surely it's an athlete's choice.

Chris, Holland,

In 99' my host had a mask on and offered me one. i tried it but it was hot. The air is unhealthy, indoors and out.

Dave, crosville, USA

One shouldn't be forced to apologize for protecting one's health or speaking the truth.

Eleesa, Branford, CT, USA

When in Rome do as the Romans.

When in Rome do as we please. (USA version)

I'm surprised Bush didn't hold a press conference and declare a war on air.

Paul, London,

Good. These cyclists showing up with masks on was low class and in poor taste. Pretty typical behavior and attitude that I've come to expect from most of the cyclists I work with and ride with. They were out of line.

George, Salt Lake City, USA

The next time someone invites you over for dinner and you walk into a smoke filled house, it will not be impolite to wear something to filter out the stench.

Dennis, Fishers, Indiana, USA

Millions of people all over China wear those masks every day because they, like the American Olympians, know that the air is highly polluted. That's reality. Go to China and see. To single out those Americans for reprimand is absurd. I think it's outrageous that they were forced to apologize/

Jimmy, Stuart, USA

Most of these comments are idiotic.
#1. China is mostly polluted because of Multi-National Corporations, most of them being U.S.A. owned.
#2, We are judging Beijing on a reduced smog rate, not at what it usually is. We've seen pictures of Beijing. It's twice as bad as L.A. from what I've seen.

Walter, Bellingham, WA. USA

An athlete's lungs are their career. If they sacrifice their lungs for the sake of "diplomatic courtesy" it's putting the whole reason they are there at risk.

Corban, Dublin, Ireland

'Get out! Beijing do not welcome you either!' In life, if you look for the worst, then you get the misery in return! I don't think it's the issue of 'freedom of speech', but rather lacking of necessary manner & respect towards other nation! Chinese government should not tolerant these 'opportunists'

Xiang, Weybridge, Surrey

Next time someone invites you over for dinner, show up wearing a mask and complain about the smell of whatever's cooking. Face it Americans, this is something we might expect the French to do. What's happened to us?

Bob, Oklahoma, USA

I thought it was a great message, pity they apologized.

Jeff, Grand Rapids, Michigan,

Indeed, what a disgrace.

It is a disgrace that they felt pressured enough to apologize when it's in their right to wear whatever protection they consider necessary, and nobody should be wanting to take away that right from them.

Also lets remember FEMA reports about ground zero air being safe and how that turned out.

John, California, USA

we're the u.s. olympic grovelling team, and we're going for the gold!

bruce, langlois, or, usa

John (NJ),
All visitors to China, the last several years, have complained of the air pollution and the effect on their respiratory system. Why shouldn't atheletes protect themselves? It's their democratic right, even in China. By the way a lot of China's citizens similarly protect themselves.

Ian, Madison, USA

Do the olympic teams offer egg shells to their athletes too? Since when has the truth been something you should never admit to? If there is smog, there is smog, and anyone who's ever been to beijing, knows there is smog! Simple as that.

Arthur, Newcastle,

Ok....now I'M offended. Does that count with anyone or the world? I'm an American so why doesn't how I feel matter anymore? I'm sick of everyone having to apologize to everyone because of our "entitled" mindset.

Jeff, Colorado Springs,

Continuing my previous rant....as an airline employee who has been to the Asian countries numerous times...I see them coming into our country everyday wearing masks and no one hear really cares. Who are they to set the standard on what's offensive? The whole world needs to get a reality check.

Jeff, Colorado Springs,

I don't understand why no-one can see it. Ever been in a room full of smokers? If one group stops smoking, the air and smoke from the others filters over. Same with Beijing and the rest of China. The smog is not going to go away.

Mario, Adelaide, Australia

These officials should stop by the Pacific Rim some time. People still wear bright white masks following the SARS scare a few years back; could you ever think of asking someone to apologize for defending their health? Apparently China can.

Ian, Vancouver, Canada

No one else but only these four clowns are wearing masks. Besides, inside an air conditioned airport? We all know China is doing their best to improve the air quality for the games. The least these athletes can do is to show some respect to the host country. It is just common courtesy.

john, New Jesey, USA

It still surprises me how narrow minded and vitriolic the West are, or rather Americans, when it comes to China.

The air is bad no doubt but where is the Olympic spirit? The human aspect of the Games, of tolerance, of oneness, is gladly discarded because this is China, land of the yellow fever.

Vinson Tan, Subang Jaya, Malaysia

Apologize! For trying to protect oneself from SMOG pollution! Only in China, the world's largest contributor to Global Warming by many standards. Yet another reason why the Olympics should never have been held in this communist country. I say put on smog masks with the stars and stripes on them!

Kimberly, Columbus, OH, USA

An unqualified apology from American citizens?? Something's fishy.. And if pollution is such a touchy subject for the Chinese maybe they should address what the world already knows: is the global shame as the dirtiest polluter on the planet really worth it to keep that double digit economic growth?

Jay James, San Francisco, USA

This is akin to someone hosting a dinner with the promise of a Kobe beef steak, when most invitees don't really want to go to dinner there in the first place. Would you apologize to the host if the food tasted like dog meat (pun intended)? I don't think so..

Michael Miller, La Mesa, USA

The results of Olympic events are forgotten over time. The impressions made, however, do last a lifetime. I wish our cyclists would put it all in perspective and not act like spoiled environmentalists trying to send a message. They've made the first impression of Americans at the games. A bad 1.

Lawrence, Phoenix, USA

I can't believe that they apologized. Must have been pressured by the US Olympic committee. I wonder what they threatened them with. This Olympic Games is already a farse and a mere propaganda event for the Communist Party in China. Remind anyone of 1936???

Stephan Andranian, Costa Mesa, USA

The US has been on a smear campaign against China for years. Everything that is wrong or corrupt in China is big news in the US. Every country (including the US itself) suffers from industries and governments that hide truth from citzens, consumers, and trading partners.

Sandra, Victoria, Canada

I suppose Los Angeles in 1984 was free of air pollution as well. Where do you draw the line? China should be commended for their efforts, even if it isn't appearing crystal clear. Water vapor is turning out to be a lot of what is seen, and that is hard to do away with. Don't believe the hype.

Ben, Portland, USA

These cyclists were wearing their masks in the airport, which is inside and presumably in air-conditioning. They were not doing it to protect their health, they were doing it to make a point. Very rude, in my opinion, and it does their US teammates a disservice.

Samantha Phillips, London, UK

Apology? Why, because china has pollution? Because they have taken Dog off the menu? Because they don't believe in human rights? Because they are a communist country and their are no freedoms? Shame on the Olympic Officials & the cyclists for not having any backbone. Shame on Bush for going.

Chuck, Phoenix, USA

I'd wear a mask too, the air looks disgusting. Reminds me of a visit I had to Mexico City, like smoking a few packs of cigarettes just from walking around.

Mark, San Carlos, CA, USA

In the civilized world, the host apologizes when conditions are sub-standard, not the guest.

Darrel, Carolina, USA

An apology? Give me a break. These are athletes whose performance relies on clear respiratory pathways. It's nobody's fault but China's that the air is not optimal.

For the athletes, the games are not about China. Saving face, in this case, does not come before winning the gold.

Jick, Lansing, MI, USA

They ought to have pretended that the air was clean just like the Chinese oligarchy orders its citizens to do. What a nervy bunch

Norman, Canada,

These same cyclists, if they were in the U.S., would never apologize. Rather, they would be making a statement about global warming and take a swipe at the Bush Administration. Next, we'll be hearing about how it is their culture to have smog.

Joan, California, USA