Four American Olympic cyclists are apologizing to
Beijing's Olympic organizers for arriving in China's capital
wearing face masks.
Michael Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed
released a statement, saying the masks were only a precaution, and
not an attempt to make a political or environmental statement.
The air quality in Beijing remains a concern as the games
approach, even after long-planned pollution-control measures went
into effect.
The U.S. Olympic Committee's chief executive officer says the
cyclists weren't asked to apologize, and did so on their own.
Jim Scherr says masks have been issued to about 200 American
athletes but the USOC didn't give them out.