China singles out U.S. 'troublemakers'

NEW YORK, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- China was so concerned over possible troublemakers on the U.S. Olympic team that it made up a list of people to keep an eye on, the U.S. Olympic Committee said.

USA Today, which obtained a copy of an USOC e-mail message on the subject, said officials at Beijing singled out nine U.S. athletes and one assistant coach as possible demonstrators at the Games, largely in connection with the crisis at the Darfur region of Sudan.

Among those named were softball players Jennie Finch and Jessica Mendoza and soccer player Abby Wambach, who broke her leg and missed the Games, USA Today said. It also included two Paralympians.

USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel told the newspaper the concerns were viewed as "entirely unjustified and unwarranted."