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GB Handball stars experience Beijing

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Representatives of most sports were invited to send athletes and coaches to to soak up the atmosphere and understand the pressures they will face in four years time. The athletes who went to Beijing were Lynn McCafferty, Laura... See more » Representatives of most sports were invited to send athletes and coaches to to soak up the atmosphere and understand the pressures they will face in four years time. The athletes who went to Beijing were Lynn McCafferty, Laura Innes, Sebastian Prieto and Jesper Parker with performance coach Bill Baillie, while GB support service coordinator Mel Chowns also attended. Here, she gives us her thoughts on the experience. “We were given the chance of a lifetime by the British Olympic Association’s Olympic Ambition 2012 programme, by being taken to Macau and Beijing to experience first hand what life is like for players and staff at an Olympic games. “This opportunity has meant that they can feedback to all the players and staff involved with the GB squads, to give everybody an insight into what to expect so that we can prepare accordingly and there will be no surprises come London 2012. “The team travelled out to Hong Kong with members of GB volleyball, basketball, weightlifting and archery where they were supposed to transfer immediately to Macau where Team GB’s holding camp is based but bad weather prevented this until the following day. “Once at Macau the teams were met by BOA officials and given a presentation on how the holding camp works and then a tour of all the facilities there. The set up was fantastic, with everything perfectly set up for the athletes to get the best preparation for their events, to get acclimatised but also to be able to relax and build the Team GB spirit. The facilities at Macau could not be bettered and the BOA had secured all the best venues ahead of other nations. “From Macau, the team went onto Beijing where interest in them from the public increased and the atmosphere was amazing. The Ambition 2012 teams stayed in special apartments close to the Bird’s Nest Stadium and again they were given a briefing by the BOA on what to expect. They were able to watch the opening ceremony spectacular fireworks from outside the stadium before assembling as an ambition 2012 group to watch the ceremony on TV. “Day one saw the team visit the Olympic Village to see the athletes’ accommodation, training facilities, leisure areas and the amazing dining hall that takes your breath away with the scale. There you can mingle with all the athletes from other sports and other nations and select from the healthy to the not so healthy burgers. “Again the attention to detail by the BOA is to be admired, especially where the accommodation is concerned. They have worked with sponsors B&Q to ensure the apartments are comfortable but have everything the athletes need to feel at home and to embrace the Team GB identity and values. “The handball players took the opportunity to meet some of the handball players from other nations competing in the games so that afterwards they could get a perspective on what the games were like and their preparation. The Danish men’s team posed for photos with our players, aware of our programme and contact was also established with players from China, Sweden and Brazil. "From the village it was on to the Games themselves and to the women’s preliminary matches. They watched Romania v Kazakhstan, Russia v South Korea, Norway v China and Germany v Brazil. “On the second full day the handball team visited the Team GB lodge which is where the athletes can meet up outside the village with friends and family, relax and watch the BBC coverage. Again the BOA had thought of everything. “Our team then had a couple of hours with the media, with the BBC and the Guardian keen to do a piece on handball. The players were interviewed by the BBC’s Eleanor Oldroyd and filmed watching the game and then an interview with the Guardian newspaper. This gave the players an insight into some of the media demands that they will face in 2012. “They then watched the men’s preliminary games: France v Brazil, Poland v China, Germany v Korea and Denmark v Egypt. And finally home to Heathrow, weary but totally inspired and more motivated than ever to be there in 2012.” See less »

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GB Handball stars experience Beijing

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