Oi from the Rio Olympic Village!

Pacific athletes have started testing out the facilities in their respective sports.

This morning (yesterday) I met the Fijian athletics team of Leslie Copeland (javelin), James Goulding (coach), Sisilia Seavula (sprinter), Bola Tafou (athletics coach) and Joseph Rodan Junior (athletics section manager) heading off to try out the athletic field. Vanuatu rower, Luigi Teilemb has been rowing over 20 kilometres every day.

Cook Islands sailors Taua Elisa Henry and Teau McKenzie have focused on their task according to their chef de mission Robert Graham. Ella and Brydon Nicholas who qualified on merit for Cook Islands have also been training in Rio.

Fiji has the biggest Pacific contingent in Rio, followed by Cook Islands. The Cooks have a team of 22- that includes athletes and officials.

Athletes from Tonga, Marshall Islands, Palau and Guam have been training without any hiccups. Papua New Guinea  swimmer and medal hopeful Ryan Pini arrives today and is expected to hit the pool tomorrow.

ALL THE HAPPENINGS

In other news- International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and the IOC Athletes Commission had lunch at a packed main dining hall.

Met up with ONOC president, Dr Robin Mitchell, Bach was preparing for the official opening of the 129th session of the IOC general assembly at the Windsor Oceanic Hotel.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama arrives in Rio today and will be met by our chef de mission Cathy Wong.

The Fiji women’s 7s rugby team arrives into the village tonight.

Palau was the first of the Pacific countries to be officially welcomed into the Games Village today. The ceremony took place in the afternoon.

Tonga’s welcome had to be deferred to Wednesday because the athletes bags which were delayed in Argentina had not arrived. Tuvalu will be the last team to arrive on Thursday.

FACTS

Finally just a few facts and figures on Rio 2016:

• August 5 to 21 date for the Olympic Games
• 19 days of Olympic Games events
•  Athletes from 206 NOCs will compete in Rio
• Approximately 10,500 athletes will compete
• 28 sports, comprising 306 medal events
• 2 new sports: golf and rugby sevens
• 32 competition venues including the Ceremonies venue plus 5 football cities
• Over 21,000 media and broadcasters will deliver the Games to a global audience in the billions

McDonald’s opening today in the main dining hall. So until tomorrow,  ‘boa noite’ (good night).