Posted on 08/05/2008 5:54:33 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
A U.S. cyclist arrives wearing a mask at Beijing airport to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, August 5, 2008. (Yves Herman/Reuters)
They can consider going to the opening ceremony wearing both. Could turn out to be quite a scene.:-)
Ping!
smog
Take a look here for what they are no longer facing...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2057064/posts
Too funny! Someone who recently visited Los Angeles told me that he saw lots of people wearing masks there too. I wonder if its true? I thought they only did that in Japan.
Oh puhleeeze.
I am in favor of such a symbolism. I think it is not a bad choice.:-)
I saw this often in China, althought the masks were white. Also women wear gloves, in a throwback to 60 years ago here. As far as the masks go, I doubt they would be effective to remove the harmful pollution, except for larger particles of soot. Anything really effective would be difficult to breath through.
My apologies, I thought you were giving the mask wearers a thumbs down:)
What is sad-— I have heard a resounding silence from the enviromental wack-jobs over these Olympics. This despite some incredible environmental damage (by the usual enviro-nazi standards) done to build and prepare for these games.
And then the air “quality”.... there has been some coverage of how bad the air is, yet again - no word.
And all of this from the #1 polluting country in the world who is NOT included in Kyoto or any other environmental pacts...
The horrid air quality should be grounds enough to boycott these Olympics...geeze.
I wonder what the airline stuck her up for, for that bicycle luggage?
People in China often wear the masks when they are sick with cold, flu, etc. as a courtesy to others.
FYI
I’ll be getting regular updates from the Canadian cyling team.
This was sent by the advance team that arrived today
Hello All,
Michael Barry, Sophie and myself arrived in Beijing as scheduled. All of the uniforms made it too!!
* Security and immigration were simple and painless. Expect to have some of your luggage xrayed as you leave the security area.
* There were tons of photographers at the airport and it feels like a fashion runway when you leave the security area. Lots of photos and flashes. Cameras everywhere.
* The USA Track Cycling Squad arrived wearing gas masks (think winter ski mask). You might see pictures of that in the news, but don’t worry. Sophie and I were standing right beside them and the air was fine. They made quite a spectacle of themselves. The road team from the USA did not wear masks.
* There will be a COC person at the airport to greet you (possibly Stephan). He will send you down to the lower level of the airport to get on a bus for the athlete’s village.
* Your luggage (even bikes) will probably just be loaded beneath the bus.
* There were no hassles going through security into the village. Very easy.
* COC staff will meet you at the Village Security area to show you where we are staying.
* Apartments are awesome. Carla Anderon from the COC says that the athlete’s village is the best they have ever had at an Olympics!
* Dining Center is good and has a wide variety of healthy food. You can easily get a healthy “north american” meal without any trouble.
* Dining Center is run by the IOC with Amarank (a large food company out of the US). Food safety and food variety is world class.
* The food center dietician told us that all fresh food (salads and fruit) is first soaked in a light chlorine solution for 15min before being rinsed and then prepared. There should be no food safety issues.
* You will get your cell phones tomorrow. They are smart phones that look like Blackberry’s. They are your’s to keep. You need to have these phones with you at all times in the event of emergency and for dope testing.
* In the event of a random dope test, you have two hours to report in. We will be using the cell phone to contact you if we aren’t with you already. The cell phone is vital!
* Beijing is ready to put on a great Games. Don’t believe what you read in the papers. Beijing is a great city with awesome people who are so proud to host the Games! I think you are all going to like it here.
I’d bet most of these athletes are going to have the time of their lives.
For my friend it will be the culmination of decades of dedication and hard work.
Newspapers here are quick to point out her “ripe old age” of 37.
This was her last shot and she’s made it to the big show. :)
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