1/ It's not as if the Chinese themselves weren't aware of a problem - they went so far as to take cars off the road in anticipation of air quality problems - a bit hypocritical that they'd expect no reaction
2/ The USOC issued the masks, they should be the ones issuing the apologies for either not instructing on etiquette at the airport or to the athletes for being two-faced about their health concerns
3/ Anyone here who's ever been or known someone who's asthmatic and lived through a smog alert in an American city knows it's the difference between staying healthy and feeling like crud. We have cities with air quality problems too - that's not a secret. In spring, it's been the difference between being able to work or being out for days at a time with wicked allergic respiratory probs. And these people are trying to stay in top shape.

Much ado about nothing. Like prepping people for smog and then slapping their hands when they take your advice. USOC needs to get a bit of a backbone.