“Sorry” seems to be the hardest word for four US Olympic cyclists who wore masks at the Beijing airport. Now the US Olympic Committee (USOC) wants to end the issue for good.
USOC officials scheduled talks for this week with the cyclists, who wore masks when they got off the plane in Beijing. The cyclists apologized for offending the Olympic host, but now they are seeking an apology from the USOC for making them say they were sorry.
“If they have questions or concerns, we want to hear those, address them and bring closure to the matter,” USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel said on Monday.
Cyclists Michael Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed had their attorney send a letter last week to the leadership of the Athletes Advisory Council saying the controversy was “emotionally devastating” and had a negative effect on their Olympic performances. Of the four, only Hammer managed a top-five finish. She and Reed were considered medal contenders.
The cyclists want an apology from the USOC.
“No athlete who has trained for years to become an Olympic athlete should be subject to such disrespect,” wrote their attorney, Christopher Campbell.
The USOC made masks available for athletes concerned about poor air quality in Beijing. The four cyclists were the only athletes known to have disembarked an airplane at the Beijing airport wearing the masks.
It made big news, and upon learning what an effect their actions had, the athletes met with USOC officials and drafted an apology that was sent to the media via the federation. Apparently, the apology did not come from the heart.
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