”Made in China” Ping.
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Posted on 11/04/2007 5:12:33 AM PST by JACKRUSSELL
(SYDNEY) — Australia's swimming team and coaching staff have no health or pollution concerns ahead of next year's Beijing Olympics, head coach Alan Thompson said Sunday.
Thompson and several of his staff have been on fact-finding missions to Beijing to prepare team contingency plans for the Olympics next August.
With Beijing struggling to help clear the air in the notoriously-polluted capital, Thompson says he does not believe pollution will be the problem most people envisage.
"I don't really think I have any fears, I probably did before I went there," Thompson said Sunday.
"We had some issues in Shanghai with nasal irritations which developed into a bit of sickness.
"(But) we're indoors and the village is so close (to the pool) and on the fourth ring road, so we're way out of town and you don't have the same impact of pollution as what you see on TV.
"We were there the other week and stayed in the city and had guys out running and I was out walking every day and there were no issues at all.
"I've been there four times and have had no sickness."
Breaststroke world record holder Leisel Jones is one swimmer to express a desire to tour Beijing prior to the Olympics, but it is unlikely any Australian team swimmer will go to China before the Games as it is considered "too risky" and could seriously disrupt training, he said.
Thompson said while planning is being stepped up in the countdown to the Games, Australia will not get serious about preparing for the morning finals format until after the national Olympic trials here next March.
The change in programme will stretch some events over three days and impact on the race preparation of swimmers, particularly if they win medals in the morning finals and have to contest heat swims later that night.
With warm down, doping controls and press conferences, swimmers may be kept at the pool for some hours after morning racing, thus reducing their rest and recovery time between sessions.
Thompson said Australia will place day curfews on swimmers as part of their planning for the new competition format and athletes will need to be mentally strong to handle the altered programme.
"For some people it will be detrimental and some people it will be great," Thompson said.
"The heats will be very fast and you will need to be ready for the heats... some people will adapt and handle it and some people won't."
We know a young man who was just over there for the Special Olympics...and they did not feed the athletes enough meat and protein, at least not what Westerners are used to.
Walking around a place and being in the heat of competition are two different things. Some swimming events are extremely taxing as the distances increase.
If it were me I’d bring the team to train in those conditions as you would if you were at altitude.
"I've been there four times and have had no sickness."
Four times. Well, that's reassuring.
Would you WANT to eat their meat and protein (fish)?????
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