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."