Masked Heroes: Olympic Athletes to follow Batman's Example

NYT: None of the American triathletes plan to wear the masks during the actual races, but will wear them as much as possible while they are outside. They wore them while walking around the athletes’ village and while riding buses to and from the American training center, where they stayed indoors to train.

“I’m definitely conscious,” Reed said of the attention placed on what has become a delicate matter for American and Chinese officials. “I don’t want to offend anyone, but I’m out for my own health, really. And I’m sure that they know that the air quality is not good, so I don’t see it’s that bad wearing a mask.”

clipped from www.nytimes.com BEIJING — As Olympic and city officials continued to defend the air quality here, athletes were faced with the decision Friday of whether to attend the opening ceremony in the thick smog and, if they do go, whether to wear a mask to combat the pollution. Matt Reed, a triathlete for the United States, said he would wear a mask during part of the opening ceremony, but was cognizant of the attention it might receive. “I won’t wear it walking out,” Reed said after a workout at Beijing Normal University on Friday morning. “But when we’re standing there not doing anything, on the field, I’ll wear it.”