Olympic cyclists

[Crankin]

Have you seen the pictures of the Olympic cyclists who had to apologize for wearing masks? The one who is front and center on the current Yahoo page, with the glasses, is Bobby Lee. My "German son" is his roommate and they both ride for the Rite Aid Drug team out of Philadelphia. About 5 weeks ago he stayed at my house for 2 nights.
I know someone famous! Seriously, he was one of the nicest people I have ever met. He has a master's degree in some impressive subject and his parents actually met each other on a group ride here in Concord, when they were in college. They were both serious racers.
I can see why he wore the mask. The pollution looks awful. I don't think that is just haze.

[newfsmith]

I'm wondering how many athletes are going to have their performance questioned because they had to max out their inhalers because of pollution.

[rachael24]

Is the pollution and air quality really that bad in China? I would think they are exaggerating.

[sundial]

It is bad. One former Olympic mtb'er chose not to compete at Beijing because of the air quality. Several pro mtb'ers said they were hacking, coughing and getting nauseated half way through the training rides. Some were hurling. http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/sick/sick0022.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)

[SadieKate]

I remember Adam Craig saying that the air during event he went to last Fall (a kind of goodwill pre-Olympic race either on the same course or in the same area) caused a lot of problems for him and other cyclists. Back in December he guessed his plan would be to fly in the day before the event, race and get out. And if the polution was too bad, just pull from the race. No one wanted to risk long term damage.

He was obviously very worried about the balancing act of health and wanting to race in the Olympics.

[csr1210]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought it was ridiculous that they felt they had to apologize. From what I understand, the masks were provided by some Olympic committe - not the US, not the US cycling team, and not the individual athletes. So, basically they are apologizing for using protective gear that was given to them by an olympic organization that felt the athletes' health/performance could be compromised by existing conditions?!? What - were they supposed to only wear them in private? If there is more to the story, please let me know.

Sorry, based on what's been reported in the news, I just don't get it:(
Christy

[tennisgirl43]

I agree with Christy - I don't know why they needed to apologize. I understand trying to keep relations with China, etc., positive, but they've even said how awful the air quality is. If you are an athlete in an event that depends on your respiratory system functioning well, why not wear a mask? I guess it's just more political correctness. Which makes me sad.

[dachshund]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I thought it was ridiculous that they felt they had to apologize. From what I understand, the masks were provided by some Olympic committe - not the US, not the US cycling team, and not the individual athletes. So, basically they are apologizing for using protective gear that was given to them by an olympic organization that felt the athletes' health/performance could be compromised by existing conditions?!? What - were they supposed to only wear them in private? If there is more to the story, please let me know.

Sorry, based on what's been reported in the news, I just don't get it:(
Christy

Exactly, I don't get it either. The reality of hosting elite athletes in a smog-filled environment clashes with the "face saving" agenda. I feel for them, it's a real dilemma.

Supposedly the goverment was going to shut down factories and keep car traffic out of the area as a last ditch effort to reduce polution. We'll see. I'm completely fascinated by the political drama of it, but these athletes are getting dropped into a very strange environment.

[Crankin]

I certainly agree! I know Bobby would not have done anything politically incorrect; he is too smart. Geez, half the people who live there wear masks to walk around every day.
Based on how I feel when I ride if there's an air quality alert here, I question the safety of engaging at an Olympic level in any endurance sport under those conditions.

[Peanut03]

I agree too! There is no need to apologize. Everyone knows the pollution is bad, and many athletes have said that they will be wearing masks unless they are competing. A friend went to China last summer and said the air was polluted. She didn't feel any ill effects, but she didn't go running either!

The bottom line is, we are mixing politics with sport. It's not about the athete, it's about the politics of the Olympics. (IMO)

[Trek420]

Is the pollution and air quality really that bad in China? I would think they are exaggerating.

I don't want to politicize the thread so let's try real hard to keep this to cycling but yes, it's that bad. Bad enough that it effects us here. This is from 2007. We all breath the same air ;)

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/environment&id=5747398

[mimitabby]

yes, Trek, you're right, it all blows around, but when there's an inversion, bad air gets trapped in an area, particularly when the emissions of that area are out of control.

from today's news:

Air pollution shrouds Beijing on eve of Olympics

By TINI TRAN – 3 hours ago

BEIJING (AP) — The wall of gray haze around the National Stadium and across the city cut visibility down to a mile. On the eve of opening ceremonies, Beijing's polluted air took center stage Thursday as the most visibly pressing problem for Olympic organizers who had promised to clean up the Chinese capital.

[sgf726]

I travel to Beijing on a regular basis for business and the pollution is usually pretty bad, most days you can't even tell there are mountains right outside the city.

We commented at work as well how the athletes were going to perform with the air quality, the first time I went there I ran outside but didn't feel good afterwards since then I have stayed on the treadmill in the gym as I didn't want to breathe the air.

[Duck on Wheels]

Thor Hushovd dropped the Olympics altogether. He hasn't said so explicitly, but I imagine the pollution was a factor. He was battling a chest cold towards the end of the TdF, and though he won a race in Norway just two days before the Olympic team left for Beijing, and had said beforehand that he considered that race a test of whether he was recovered enough to go, he nevertheless decided not to go "because he has to give priority to his health".

[Kalidurga]

Fred Dreier of VeloNews gives his take of the pollution in Beijing, including photos: "After a few days in Beijing, VeloNews' Fred Dreier says masks seem like a really good idea" (http://www.velonews.com/article/81451).

Like Trek, I don't want to politicize the thread, so I'm keepin' my opinions to myself and letting those photos do the talking.

[cyclinnewbie]

What I don't get is that they have known for what, 4 years or so that the Olympics would be held in their uber-polluted city, and have done next to nothing to rectify the situation, and THAT has been done too late to make a difference. Doesn't the IOC take environment into account? Just seems really stupid to me. And I've read a couple of reports the past couple of weeks about athletes boycotting because of the air quality. Such a shame.

[Grog]

I agree that "cold hard cash" has a lot to do with this and I'm not too impressed with the IOC, but then, the IOC has never really impressed me in the past...

This being said, I would be curious to see some hard data about this pollution thing. Los Angeles and Athens are not especially "clean air" cities either, and lots of athletes were sick in Athens (I'm a bit too young to remember much about LA). Any data, anyone?

[shootingstar]

At the time, Beijing won the Olympic bid to host the event, I truly wondered the sanity ..given the air quality.

I haven't been to Asia...yet. But I should have gone and nearly did, before Tienamen Square massacre event occurred.

Air quality was better then in Beijing. Now I worry with my partner's higher sensitivity to air pollution due to his allergies..

Most people that I know who lived for several years in the major Asian cities Bangkok, Beijing, Manila....marvel at the "clearer" air of Canada where they are now.

Beijing's pollution might be made more complex and dangerous because of China's coal-burning industries in nearby regions.. and other toxic particulate where it might be more heavily regulated for emissions in Canada and the U.S.

[ilima]

You're not the only one. The USOC officials through the cyclists under the bus, so to speak. The officials are just too worried about offending China.

In a great synergy of politics and athletics, Lopez Lomong, one of Sudan's 'lost boys' and member of Team Darfur (and US citizen since 2007), was chosen by his peers to carry the US flag into the opening ceremonies.

[Trek420]

What a great move. He deserves the honor as an athlete and teammate. But I've read articles that paint the US team as politically unaware, as if they don't read about current events or care. I met paralympic sprinter, and world record holder April Holmes and asked her about the political ramifications of this game and she said they are so focussed on training that it's not as if they don't read or care, the athletes just have to focus on their training. Heh, heh, I suppose that's the party line or what they say ;)

Here in a subtle move that speaks volumes to the tragic situation in Darfur which we all, not just any one country should care about the US team chose this athlete.

I'm so very proud of them.

Quiet, dignified, yet what a huge statement to the world when they enter the stadium.

[Susan126]

My brother travels a lot for his company and he always tells me how bad Beijing's air is and not to go there for this reason.

He tries not to go himself but sometimes he just has to because of work. He was just saddened when he heard that the olympics were to take place there.

What was the IOC thinking????????? It's all about the $$$$$$ SAD!

Bad air and athletes . . . NOT GOOD!

[cyclinnewbie]

Heaven forbid we should offend anyone. So the pollution AND the human rights violations will just be two huge giant proverbial elephants in the corner for the duration of the Olympics. I hate politics.

[ny biker]

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson gives his take on Beijing here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/07/AR2008080702898.html?hpid=opinionsbox1