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Members of US Olympic team at the welcoming ceremony at the Athlete's Olympic Village. |
BEIJING: Often when you go away, it can be comforting to find a little reminder of home when you arrive.
That's certainly the case in the Athletes' Village at the Beijing Olympics with competitors and some delegation chiefs doing all they can to make themselves feel at ease as they get ready for the 'greatest show on earth'.
"We got here and found stuffed boxing kangaroos on all of our beds," said Australian kayaker Chantal Meek on Wednesday.
"I think that's what differentiates the Olympics from the World Championships and other competitions."
Meanwhile Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand are doing their bit to bring Kiwi culture to China.
"There's only four million New Zealanders," said team boss Dave Currie, who has two Maori totem poles guarding the entrance to his residence.
"We want our athletes to feel that, even though they're over here, and it can be scary, everyone back home is right behind them."
He added: "We also want them to feel some of that warrior spirit that is integral to the Maori culture, which is why our torchbearer on Friday will wear a 'Muka' (made from bird feathers) cloak."
Examples of American culture and commerce aren't hard to find in Beijing, with bottles of Coca Cola and McDonald's burgers particularly visible.
But one of the more difficult delegations to find in the Village is the one from the United States. For a country often accused of brashness, the Americans are currently keeping a low profile.
US chief of sports performance Steve Roush, speaking after the Stars and Stripes had been hoisted during a flag-raising ceremony at the Village's international zone, said: "You can find us because we are the only ones without anything outside.
"We will do a big splash, just at the right time," he added without revealing further details.
American swimming star Michael Phelps, bidding for a record eight gold medals at a single Games, was happy with his surroundings as he found them.
"It's the nicest dorms I've been in. It's definitely better than the last two Olympics. The Village is cool ... there's little grassy areas, there are sculptures. It's a really neat environment."
But attempts by other competitors to personalise their environment can take on a political context seemingly at odds with the Olympic spirit.
In one part of the Village, banners below flags of the Rising Sun read "Fighting! Team Japan!"
On the opposite side flags from Japan's former colony, South Korea, flutter in the wind above characters spelling the word 'fighting'.
"This makes me feel good," said Japanese female saber fencer Madoka Hisagae, giggling. "It makes me want to fight harder."
But not everyone was happy.
"We don't want to be seen to be encouraging countries to bring things," said one Beijing Olympic Games Committee (BOCOG) employee, who declined to be named.
"It makes the Village look a bit untidy and it's inconvenient."
- AFP/yb
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