Rebecca reports:
“First days” can often be a little trying while you sort the system and work out where everything is and so it was today. Because our accommodation is a military base, our wake up call is the 6am cry of offices….in serried ranks assembled. We are feeling quite safe with the multitude of solders with guns with which we find ourselves surrounded.
Our accommodation is basic but new, and talking to a member of the US Team, a good side better than the athletes’ digs! That being said, the athlete’s village, which is about 30 minutes from us, is quite impressive, from the outside at least! A huddle of high-rises draped in each country’s banners; Italian cyclists hitting the nearby roads, Slovakian walkers training with their coaches on scooters, athletes everywhere making use of the wide paths and roads for off venue training.
Australian athlete accommodation
The main media centre is impressive too. Enormous! And the main floor doesn’t even include the big players who have their own separate offices in an adjacent small high-rise. The equestrian media room is well laid out, right next to the arena with media conferences taking place right up the front. Security is tight as is biosecurity which means we have to squelch our way over squishy antiseptic filled mats to enter the precinct.
Main media centre
We are all getting around on the official buses, all as new smelling as the Olympic Hwy which is ours alone. They are prompt and frequent (except for today where everything basically closed down at midday to prepare for the opening ceremony).
As you would probably already know, all our Aussie eventers are through the first trot up and ready to literally go for gold starting tomorrow with the first day of the dressage. Go Aussies!
Thank goodness you’re on the scene – information about our Aussie horses and their riders is pretty hard to come by. Checking in daily is going to be a highlight in our house!!
“We are feeling quite safe with the multitude of solders with guns with which we find ourselves surrounded.”
Until a stray bullet ripped through your tent!
Please take care. It’s not just the horses we want to see come home safe!
Thank you Chris and Roz for the first class Rio coverage. An oasis in the desert of equestrian reporting this end. Almost like being there. Hope the showjumping gods smile on our excellent eventers. Looking fwd to THM digital.