# Olympic Masks US Cycling Team Prepared for Beijing Smog By Bianca | Published 2008-08-06 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olympic-masks-us-cycling-team-beijing-smog References: [ca.news.yahoo](http://ca.news.yahoo.com/indepth/olympics/s/reuters/080805/n_usa_reuters/usreport_olympics_masks_dc_1) The [Beijing Olympics opening ceremony](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eam-usa-limited-capsule) is only two days away, and by now most of the athletes have made their way to China. The American cycling team, however, made headlines upon their arrival. When they arrived at the Beijing International Airport on Tuesday, members of the [U.S. cycling](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/advanced-thermoregulation) wore black face masks. They didn't do it as a PR stunt or to make any type of statement -- they did it simply to protect the health of their lungs. The black face covers are actually [respiratory masks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ebcare-mask) to help keep their lungs in prime condition for the upcoming events. Beijing is notorious for their smog, particularly in the summer, but the US cycling team was not ready to let poor air quality tampering with their cardio performance. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 44% | Activity: 60% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Athlete Respiratory Protection:** Opportunities for respiratory devices to protect athletes during outdoor events in areas with high pollution levels. - **Air Quality Monitoring in Sports:** Development of air quality monitoring systems for sports venues and events to help athletes prepare and prevent respiratory issues. - **Smart Sports Masks:** Innovation in respiratory masks with sensors to monitor air quality, heart rate, and breathing patterns during physical activity. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Environmental Protection:** Opportunities for companies to create new respiratory devices and technologies in response to environmental pollution. - **Sports:** Opportunities for sports industry to develop monitoring and health tracking technologies to help athletes perform at their best and minimize health risks. - **Healthcare:** Opportunities for healthcare industry to develop and market respiratory devices and technologies for athletes and people living in areas with high pollution levels. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Carbon-Neutral Olympic Outfits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/official-outfit-for-team-china.md) - [Aerodynamic Filtration Face Masks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goa-face-protector.md) - [Powered Breathability Face Masks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/performance-face-mask.md) - [Olympian-Approved Makeup Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loral-paris-cosmetics.md) - [Performance Scrubwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/figs.md) - [Performance-Driven Olympic Athlete Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/team-canada-kits.md) - [Chic Olympic Surfer Fashions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oakley-offshore-collection.md) - [Inflatable Olympic Jacket Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-thermafit-air-milano-jacket.md) - [Fully Recycled Olympic Wear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/recycle-based-Olympic-polo.md)