It's probably the most talked about topic in the past month about the Olympics. No... it's not the bird nest we are talking about, nor the athletes being suspended for allegedly taking performance enhancing drugs, nor the International Olympic Committee's decision to reverse its decision to suspend Iraq for alleged government interference in the country's national committee.
We are talking about Beijing's air quality and how everyone seems to have a view and making a statement about it.
By now, television worldwide and outlets on the internet have been splashed with pictures of the four track cyclists from the United States team stepping off their flight wearing masks over their mouths and noses on Tuesday.
The United States Olympic Committee apparently issued the specially designed masks to protect athletes from the potentially harmful air in Beijing. The lead exercise physiologist from the USOC had also advised the athletes to wear the masks on the plane and as soon as they land -- which the cyclists did.
But when they landed on Tuesday at Beijing wearing the masks, they were apparently chided by USOC officials for walking off the plane with the masks because it might embarrass the host country.
"This is really a surprise, because I didn't think it was going to be such a big deal," said Mike Friedman, one of the cyclists who was quoted by the New York Times. "They have pollution in Los Angeles, and if the Olympics were in Los Angeles, we would probably wear these masks, too."
Really?!
What did they think the message would be when they step off the plane wearing the masks, and t-shirts like this?
If you were an athlete gearing up to win a gold medal wouldn't you be wearing a mask when landing in Beijing where the air is hard to breathe? I couldn't care less what the Beijing government thinks. The Beijing govt should be embarrassed. The Olympics are not a showcase for China, they're a contest for the athletes to show their greatness. It's hard to be great if you can't breathe.