Ok, here we go, I knew the Olympics were going to cause a whole lot of problems.
By bonbon664
@bonbon664 (3466)
Canada
August 6, 2008 12:38pm CST
4 American cyclists showed up in Beijing wearing smog masks. Apparently this offended the host country, and they've had to write an apology. I don't think they're the ones who should be apologizing, I think it should be the Chinese apologizing for the horrible air the athletes have to compete in. I don't fault the athletes, these are elite athletes who have been training all their lives for this. They want to protect their lungs so they will be able to compete.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2510204/Beijing-Olympics-American-cyclists-apologise-for-smog-masks.html
I think this is only the beginning of the problems that will arise from having the olympics there. The IOC is out of their collective minds. What other problems can you forsee?
3 people like this
11 responses
@sugarplum9084 (1771)
• United States
6 Aug 08
Wow, that really upsets me that they would basically command an apology. They should be the ones making the air better, it's not the athletes' fault if the city air is so dirty. We all have the right to compete fairly with our bodies at the best of their ability. It's not like we are taking steroids or anything. Maybe the Chinese are used to the bad air in that Beijing, but some athletes that are used to cleaner air can really be affected by it, I say the Chinese officials should be the ones owing apologies! They should just be thankful that they have the opportunity to host the Olympics and bring in all that tourism. Shucks. 
3 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
6 Aug 08
I know, it's only going to get worse I predict.
1 person likes this
@lixiaos77 (1030)
• Shijiazhuang, China
7 Aug 08
It is strange that none of you go to Beijing these days, but you complain about the air in Beijing.
No dirt is more dirty than the dirt in the mouth and heart.
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
6 Aug 08
That is truly ridiculous that they would force an apology from them for simply trying to protect their lungs which they have worked so hard to strengthen and protect. What is so wrong with that?
I don't know of any other things that might be a problem but, I just wanted to chime in and say that it really is sour grapes that they made them apologize for trying to keep themselves healthy enough to keep their edge in a dream come true. What the fedge kind of crap is that?
3 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
6 Aug 08
I think it's the color of things to come. Just wait till one of the athletes thanks God for his/her win.
1 person likes this
@jsmith12 (438)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
Just as a side note, here are a few other problems to date:
A dancer who was injured during a practice for the opening ceremonies was injured, and had to wait over 50 mins for an ambulance to reach her. Officials claim it's just a broken leg. The unnamed source who brought the issue to light claims that the performer may never have use of her lower body again.
Performers for the opening ceremonies went without food for 24 hrs because the security people wouldn't let the caterers pass.
2 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
It's good you love your country as I love mine. I admit my country has problems, and as much as you love your country, it's ok to admit it has problems.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
8 Aug 08
They made it the world's business when they have all the world's eyes are on them during the Olympics. With the world so small now, it's hard to keep all your countries secrets inside.
@jsmith12 (438)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
I agree, it's only going to get worse. Look at the torch relay, and how badly that went.
NOTHING has gone right to date for these games, and since China was announced the winner people have been predicting problems.
Sad to say, China themselves are only proving to make matters worse with these kinds of actions.
2 people like this
@zhubaohuisdme (240)
• China
7 Aug 08
Hello.bonbon664 .I am a chinese too.I will tell you that I always reject the Olympics hold in our country ! In order to hold the 2008 Olympic Game and improve the quality of air .A lot of factory must be shutdown and many people lost their's job .
It is seem that chemical plant must be shutdown.however. Many habiliment manufactory also shutdown! because many spin manufactory cling to it .and this factorys are far from beijing! In order to against terror. All of post to beijing or qingdao and other citys is forbad !
There is much similar problems influences our life !And many perple have enough of that style of things.Only Gov. want to hold the Olympic Game,not chinese!
1 person likes this
@zhubaohuisdme (240)
• China
8 Aug 08
No one entrust me to be stand for,and no one entrust you to be stand for .My girlfriend work on a manufactory of costume and she is lost her job now ,I want to post a pack to beijing last week and I was told that all pack is forbad .
This is only small infection on my life and there is many other important infections on others life .Although many people say they would like to see Olympic Games hold in Beijing .Do you believe that is their’s opinion ?No,they are no right to be against .all of voice in our life is welcome to beijing !The TV , radiogram, and network is welcome and welcome!
There is also many people really want to hold Olympic Games .what are they to be stand for? The Gov. and officeholder .because those things can bring benefit to them .they can say the reason that Olympic Games hold in our country is because their’s achievement and more people is easy to bepredominate and will support their’s regime.
Only in mylot I can deliver myself of real voice.So my compatriot,if you are a righteous Chinese Please give pay attention to common people and their's real life .Not useless things. So it is to be !
@lixiaos77 (1030)
• Shijiazhuang, China
7 Aug 08
You comment only stand for yourself. You are not a president or a general-secretry. No one entrust you to be stand for.
When you want to flatter some one, be sure to stand for yourself.
@angusthethird (515)
• United States
6 Aug 08
If the Chinese were offended by people wearing masks in their city--they should have either done something about the problem before 2008, or they should have not accepted the invitation to be host country to the games. I myself would not want to be in a city that was basically a cancer trap.
Make no mistake about it--the athletes themselves have done nothing but try to protect themselves. If this was done as an affront to the Chinese people because of their race--then I could see why they were offended. But it is nothing personal. Clearly, there were health concerns. If those athletes lose their health, they won't compete again.
If I were our president, I would boycott the games, just as Jimmy Carter did when the games were held in Moscow during the '80 summer games. For Carter, the human rights violations perpretrated by the Soviets when they rolled into Afghanistan on Christmas Day of '79 far outweighed any games competition.
I have heard all.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
6 Aug 08
The funny part is, their own citizens were wearing masks up to about a week ago. They know it's bad, I guess you're not allowed to admit it.
1 person likes this
@lixiaos77 (1030)
• Shijiazhuang, China
7 Aug 08
It is strange you said some people in China wear mask. I go out every day in Beijing and see no one wear mask. Did you go to Beijing in your dream.
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
I foresee a lot of problems since China has a very bad record regarding human rights as well. However, I don't think it was right for the American athletes to create a scene. They were well aware of the situation in China regarding bad air, they had a choice to go there or not. Besides the USA has a bad record also as far as the environment is concerned. There is no recycling in many cities and people put out the enormous bags of trash every week. Unless you come with clean hands you should not point fingers at others.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
I don't think they were trying to create a scene as you say. They were issued the masks in the US. As far as having a choice to go there, I suppose they do, but, when you've traiined al your life for a chance to go to the Olympics, I'm sure they would do their best to be there. I agree we don't have the best environmental record in the west, but, the air quality is way below what the WHO recommends as being safe.
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
7 Aug 08
RE: indium post----LOL!! omg can you imagine the uproar that the chinese government would have if the athletes wore a Free Tibet t-shirt at a ceremony??!! i bet they would protest it and try to get their medals taken away somehow.
oh man...i HOPE someone does that!
as for the athletes that had to apologize..i think that is ridiculous! like someone above has said..their very own citizens were wearing the masks! and they were not Olympic class athletes!
if i was an athlete and had to compete in such a horrible evironment i would be wearing that damn mask for sure! who gives a flying f*ck if it offended anybody! its my health, therefore its more important than someones sense of importance!
@karen1977 (10)
• China
15 Aug 08
I am chinese too.first of all,thank you for your concern with olympic in china.but why you had never thought that 99% percent athletes did not wear smog masks in beijing.as your logic,they all shoud have been weared it to protect themself or refuse to enter the beijing olympic.Are they stupid or they just did not want to offen china and had to stand for bad weather to harm their health?
I also very wonder what your benefit will be if the olmypic were going to cause more problem?what do you really want to get?
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
15 Aug 08
I have nothing to gain. I'm just stating a fact that maybe it wasn't the best place to have the Olympics and outdoor activities.
@lixiaos77 (1030)
• Shijiazhuang, China
7 Aug 08
Hi! Please call and ask whoever you know in Beijing if they wear a mask.
If they don't wear a mask, please stop spread rumor!
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
I never said that all the residents of Beijing wear masks, I said the pollution is very bad, and I don't think it's unreasonable of the world's best athletes to want to protect their lungs to get the best performance possible.
@lixiaos77 (1030)
• Shijiazhuang, China
7 Aug 08
Hi, if you have never go to Beijing, how can you discuss about Beijing by your imagination? Your post have a premise without ground, you have no evidence to prove the air is not good in Beijing.
Every one has right to wear anything he want in China. no one urge him wear on unwear something. If he unwear his smog mask, it proves that the air is not bad as he supposed.
Your groundless post is rather impolite. If you have not been to Beijing, please don't behave like a rumor-spreader.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
Yes, I do have proof, I know what the air quality index is, what it should be. It's not my imagination, it's information on the news. I don't feel I'm impolite, I'm realistic.
http://archive.wri.org/item_detail.cfm?id=1431§ion=pubs&page=pubs_content_text&z=?
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/a_picture_china_air_pollution.php
http://www.pollution-china.com/
Here is some proof that it's not all in my head. I'm not one for rumour spreading.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
So, the air is good in China? That's what you're saying? Show me.
http://www.pollution-china.com/ That's not old it's from July 25th.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/116045.php Again, from July 2008.
It's a fact that world class athletes may have difficulty giving their best performance.
@lixiaos77 (1030)
• Shijiazhuang, China
7 Aug 08
The first websit is rather old. Some big factories has moved out of Beijing several years ago. You don't have new materials enough to know Beijing.
The second websit is also old, and is says that picture shows pollution in southest China. But Beijing in northeast China. You absolutely don't know where Beijing is, and you discuss Beijing like an expert.
As for the third websit. It is only a person's viewpoint, it is not a science article. And the author says that if there are strong wind and rain, the air will be ok. Are you sure there is no wind or rain these days? And you should call the author and ask if he wear a mask.
Please call and ask whoever you know in China if they wear a mask all day long?
