Meatball & Co. Apologize for Mask-gate

“Mattel takes full responsibility for these recalls and apologizes personally to you, the Chinese people, and all of our customers who received the toys,” Thomas A. Debrowski, Mattel’s executive vice president for worldwide operations.

I enjoyed this part because it’s soooo believable:

Jim Scherr, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s chief executive officer, said his organization didn’t ask the cyclists to apologize.

I’m sure they were TOLD, in no uncertain terms – I’m guessing the “apology” was written for them.

The fact that anyone thought that an apology was necessary is just astounding. Given that the IOC has now admitted that it entered into an agreement with China to censor some webisites at Olympic venues, I’m certainly hoping that western journalists come up with some truly embarassing stories during the Olympics.

of shit. I’m going to get a mask and draw a stick-man on it sticking up his middle finger and send it over. Maybe in argyle. What colors should it be?

PC in China?

Now that the IOC is in up to it’s neck in human rights and environmental controversy, let’s hope for some good highlights. Good will is one thing and asking everyone to behave and be non-political I can accept in this context, but when athletes are expected to perform at their best and basically “choke on it”, I take exception.

Chinese people were regularly seen wearing masks during the SARS crisis in Canada a few years ago even though it was considered medically unnecessary and to this day Chinese people can often be seen walking around the streets of Vancouver wearing masks. So what’s with the cultural double-standard? The air out here is a hell of alot cleaner than it is in Beijing.

Anyone know where we can get an order of 100 custom-designed masks?

a special one for Levi. in the Evel Knievel look. obviously.

I would not walk in to my hosts home wearing a mask and I doubt anyone reading this message would do a similar thing unless you were trying to provoke controversy.

There are plenty of people that don’t like the idea of China hosting the Olympics for political and/or racist reasons; athletes will not be any different.

If anyone felt they had to wear a mask upon arrival in China they probably should not have gone to these games in the first place. Were they planning to compete in masks also?

I support these guys if they want to wear a mask. Mike was over there in December so it’s not like he’d have no idea how it would be getting off that plane. And to suggest that they should not go in place of using extra precaution is awful.

I’m sorry but the air is bad over there. Why expose yourself more to it if you can do something as simple as wear a mask to help keep those pollutants out? Mike, as most Olympians, dream of these moments. Why is it wrong to wear a mask to help protect yourself?

I have a feeling my stronger feelings come from my dad having a lung transplant. He chose to wear a mask at times. Especially in hospitals and out in public because of other’s basic germs that could do him harm. If we had any kind of cold we stayed away but at times we needed to see him, we too wore masks. I see this as a lot moe serious as some are taking it as for those in some events, clear lungs are important. I strongly diaagree criticizing athletes for using protection supplied to them when the country hosting didn’t get its act together to provide a clean environment.

It’s like forbidden to use masks in China, especially if you ride a bike.

I wonder if there are any “let Levi ride” t-shirts leftover I could send to Yao Ming. belated as it may be.

Bike Snob NYC’s take on this issue

They are apparently uber-sensitive to any negative reactions heading in their direction that may embarass the fatherland. Maybe they’ll now pull their heads out and clean up their air and hopefully re-think who they align themselves with around the world. Just the fact that the IOC even considered China is kind of a kick in nuts for those countries that don’t have a history of human rights violations or deprivation of civil liberties to their own people. I would be willing to bet that it will be a LONG time until China sees another Olympics.

do I get the sneaky suspicion that this thread is going to get the Podium Cafe banned in China? To any Chinese readers… sorry.

Us Americans think it’s an insult because we would be insulted but masks are very common in China. It’s polite to wear a mask when you are sick in China and it’s very common to wear one if you have allergies. So why would the Chinese care now if a bunch of foreigners do it. When in Rome do as the Romans, or when in Beijing, do as the Beijingers.

was that someone (who shall remain anonymous) from the USOC criticized the american athletes for wearing masks. The Chinese didn’t say anything at all. These were the same masks that the USOC gave their athletes to wear. Seems a little hypocritical and stupid.

for a real political issue, see Evans, Cadel. But you won’t hear me complaining about pro-Tibet activism anytime soon.

Found Here.

"I am only doing what I perceive as best for my health and upcoming competition. I, nor any of the other athletes involved were attempting to make a political statement of any sort. We meant no offense to the great host the Chinese have been and all appreciate the hard work and devotion they’ve displayed to provide this venue. We are honored to be here, and this has been a long time dream. The bottom line is that we are here to compete faster, higher, and stronger while doing so clean, brave, reverent, and courteous trying to represent our country in the best possible way.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I will continue to wear my mask where I deem fit. It’s my life and health in the long run, and I would never do something that would purposefully or intently harm the best interest or the public view of either my Country or other Countries in attendance.

I understand that the moment chosen to wear the masks directly off the plane may have been poor timing on our behalf. We are aware now of the image it portrayed, but as I stated in the NYTimes, If this had been a city in the US with any significant pollution level that might interfere with athletic performance, I would have done the same thing. Also, keep in mind that it’s not just "pollution" we are worried about, but also getting sick. All the the athletes here are in peak form, and everyone is susceptible to getting easily sick. It’s just a precautionary measure for the best performance come game day."

I will continue to wear my mask where I deem fit. It’s my life and health in the long run… Also, keep in mind that it’s not just “pollution” we are worried about, but also getting sick. All the the athletes here are in peak form, and everyone is susceptible to getting easily sick. It’s just a precautionary measure for the best performance come game day.

Speaking of cross-cultural perspectives, there’s nothing like British fans!

article in the NY Times

that the athletes who expected the air quality to be so bad that a filtration mask was a necessity would experience poor results at these Olympics.

How can you be in the right frame of mind mentally and how could you possibly prepare mentally leading up to the Games if you believe the air quality is going to be so bad as to harm your health and hamper your performance?

The root of the problem is the belief that the organizers were incapable or unwilling to deal with the situation. This belief – in my opinion – is based on a fundamental distrust/dislike of the host nation.

Clearly the air quality was not the issue that many feared. The air has been clean as a result of the actions taken by the Chinese government. This notion as expressed by some here that poor air quality is the result of “years of damage” does not seem to understand that air circulates around the globe and does not stay within boarders in a manner such that there is Chinese Air and American Air.

And to the commenter who asked me “who owns the problem?” I guess we can conclude that it is the athletes that failed to perform under ideal air conditions and the media that blew this issue out of proportion.