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)