BEIJING (AP) -- Four American Olympic cyclists are apologizing to Beijing's Olympic organizers for arriving in China's capital wearing face masks.
Michael Friedman, Sarah Hammer, Bobby Lea and Jennie Reed released a statement, saying the masks were only a precaution, and not an attempt to make a political or environmental statement.
The air quality in Beijing remains a concern as the games approach, even after long-planned pollution-control measures went into effect.
The U.S. Olympic Committee's chief executive officer says the cyclists weren't asked to apologize, and did so on their own.
Jim Scherr says masks have been issued to about 200 American athletes but the USOC didn't give them out.
