The Taiwan head of the world's top maker of athletic shoes, Nike Inc, apologised on Friday to fans angry over a 90-second appearance by basketball star Michael Jordan that sparked a week-long public relations fiasco.
Disappointed fans, who bought Nike products to participate in a drawing for tickets to see the five-time NBA most valuable player last week, wanted a refund and apology after Jordan spent just 90 seconds on stage during a whirlwind 24-hour visit.
Nike has drawn fire for a week after fans posted angry messages in Internet chat rooms and a leading consumers' group threatened a boycott of all Nike products.
"We have never received someone as high-profile as Jordan and we must admit we didn't have enough experience," Nike's Taiwan head, Hank Lin, said.
"I offer my most sincere apology," Lin said as he bowed before a packed news conference.
Nike has offered posters and first-generation Jordan shoes to the more than 700 people who attended the event and promised to invite them to future events.
Before Jordan came to Taiwan, hundreds of fans in China blocked a sidewalk and shouted abuse after Beijing police cancelled an event he was to attend, over safety fears.
