#Blog 21: Water polo rocks & then there was Nadal!

No equestrian competitions? So what else is on in Rio then? Jane and Libby find out.

Getting to see Nadal play was a highlight. Shame he lost to Del Potro from Argentina.
Getting to see Nadal play was a highlight. Shame he lost to Del Potro from Argentina.

What a day off! The one day equestrian media and photographers had off at the Games was well used by Libby and me. As we were at The Olympics (!!!) we decided not to spend the day sightseeing but to get right into the Olympic spirit and see what else was going on. We can come back for Christ the Redeemer, but we can never come back to the Olympics in  Rio.

After doing washing and other domestic and work-related chores, we caught the media bus to the main Press Centre and access to plenty of sporting venues. It was nice to get out of the equestrian bubble… but where to go and what to do? While going to the rowing would have been marvellous (well done, Mahe!) it required too many buses and too much time so we opted for a more serendipitous approach: see what was on where we could. On to the media internal shuttle and off at the stop where most journalists got off. This turned out to be the velodrome (which unfortunately we didn’t make it into), plus one of the aquatic venues where there was obviously something going on, judging by all the cheering. In we went and it wasn’t until we got into the Press Tribunes that we discovered it was women’s water polo.

Horse & Pony at the water polo - that might be a first.
Horse & Pony at the water polo – that might be a first.

What a great game! It was enhanced by great statistics, very loud and upbeat music during the time-outs and even during the competition, and some great action in the pool. If you ever get the chance to go to watch, it’s fun. If you get the chance to play, I hope you are a good swimmer and fit!

Lovely Russian girls, but they got beaten by the Italians.
Lovely Russian girls, but they got beaten by the Italians.

The first game was won by the Italians, getting the better of their Russian rivals. On the big screen flashed a great set of statistics, showing where the game was won or lost. Dressage people – please go and find out, we need this sort of information after each test!

Lots of Australian supporters there for the National Athems
Lots of Australian supporters there for the national anthems

We had to stay a bit longer to watch the Australians play the Brazilians. The audience was going off! Plenty of supporters on both sides and there was an Olympic competition for the loudest cheering and singing of the national anthem. The Brazilians won that but the Australians won the game.

The brazilians into the pool to begin their competition
The Brazilians into the pool to begin their competition

As we were leaving, we spotted another pool where we managed to see some of the synchronised swimmers practising. It has been a big disappointment in my life so far that I have never seen a synchronised swimming competition. So while there were no competitions scheduled that day, it was a bonus to see some synchronised swimmers practising, even if it wasn’t close up. Oh yeah.

Synchronised swimming practices
Synchronised swimming practices

Next door to the pool that hosted the water polo was the controversial diving pool. Apparently this is supposed to be blue but there’s been some chemical reaction resulting in it turning green. Or is it water quality? Who knows, but it is definitely green.

That diving pool looked is rather green and is causing some concern apparently
That diving pool looked rather green and is causing some concern, apparently

The next stop was the trampolining, but we got our times wrong for that, and our Kiwi lad wasn’t on for a couple of hours, so we got to see some warming up and moved on. We wandered around with the big crowds in the main concourse area, chatted with the few other New Zealanders we met, and just enjoyed the atmosphere and the ice creams.

Met up with a few kiwi supporters but the place was mainly full of Brazilians
Met up with a few Kiwi supporters but the place was mainly full of Brazilians

There was a big basketball match on – Brazil v Argentina – and the noise in that venue would have been deafening for sure, but we headed to the tennis. (Argentina won the basketball.)

IMG_3510The first tennis match was the women’s doubles, where the Czechs won a bronze medal as all four contestants were from there! Then it was on to Centre Court! Nadal (Spain) v Del Potro (Argentina) and the press tribunes were packed. We slotted nicely into a standing-room position, Libby got a severe case of camera envy, and I got seat envy… especially when the dude in front of me fell asleep! But what a match. Nadal eventually was beaten by Del Potro.

Even watching Nadal couldn't keep this tired Japanese journalist awake.
Even watching Nadal couldn’t keep this tired Japanese journalist awake.

The day was topped off by dinner at a nice hotel nearby which had a buffet of divine salads, seafood and chardonnay. Actually the chardonnay wasn’t part of the buffet (there’s an idea, hotels), but the food was first class and we had the best meal of the trip so far. There were many other journalists there, all sick of the food served in the Olympic village. There are only so many empanadas and reheated burgers we can take.

Finished a fab day with dinner at a nice hotel, with a very tasty Brazilian chardonnay. (Image: Di Dobson)
Finished a fab day with dinner at a nice hotel, and a very tasty Brazilian chardonnay (Image: Di Dobson)

Di Dobson and I made short work of the chardy, and it was three tired troopers back on the bus to Deodoro. Di moves on to Barra today as she is covering the kayaking and other sports located in there. We will miss her. We don’t think anyone else will be moving into our apartment, but who knows, there may be a show jumping journalist still to hit the Games, although the first round is on today! So… I’ll be back on the bus to the Equestrian venue soon and watching some of the world’s best show jumpers do their thing!

Rare proof that Libby does indeed sleep now and then
Rare proof that Libby does indeed sleep now and then

 

Previous articleBlog #20: Day off
Next articleJumping: Drama and surprises in first round at Rio