Well apparently some mischievous soul shot a rifle round in the air and it fell to ground in the equestrian media centre here in Rio. It has been amusing reading the varying reports and through varying connotations and use of English, differing implications. A round did come through the media tent roof but it was not a large calibre (more rifle size) and had, I would suggest, travelled a fair distance before falling back to ground. I do not mean in any way to belittle the incident but personally I do not feel any less safe than I have for the two weeks I have been here. There are unsavoury areas of Rio and of course where there is little, if any, gun control, people can fire guns off where they please. I (again a personal assessment) do not believe the equestrian venue was the target.....and anyway, who would ever want to take a pot shot at the media?!
The security around the venue is very obvious and proactive. We are within a military barracks and there are two rings of security. To even enter the barrack area one passes through a heavy military presence with vehicle check points (VCPs) and spectator searches. There is then the usual airport type "mag & bag" run by Rio 2016 in order to get on to the venues.
Last night was going to be an early to bed and today not too an early start. 11 p.m. was not too bad but at about 5 a.m. there was a loud "crack" and all the electrics went out. Apparently it was not just the hotel but the whole area. Knowing the dressage group were departing at 6 a.m. I thought I had better check out the lifts..memories of the 16 floor ascent were alive and well in my leg muscles. I was so so so pleased to discover that the hotel's emergency generators covered the lifts. The electrics were back on by 6 but endex on any later start.
The weather here can swing between being very sunny, hot but low humidity through wind and cloud to a pleasant (for people such as I, who are built for the Ice Age not the desert) cool Rio winter's day. We have also had a couple of light to heavy rain showers. Today started very hot but a stiff breeze has blown in across Rio and I believe has had quite an impact on some of the competition venues.
Eventing dressage is now complete! I don't intend to analyse any individual performance; there will be ample quotes by athletes and coaches and I am sure plenty of analytical critiquing by "experts". It is perhaps closer at the top of the team order than some might of expected and perhaps one or two nations that would have liked to have been a rung or two higher on the ladder. However, it is close and that will make it very exciting tomorrow as nobody has any margin in hand. Team tactics could be very intriguing tomorrow if the course and the time turn out to be as challenging as many are predicting. It should be cooled tomorrow which will help but it is going to be GREAT sport.
I am finishing up this little ditti sitting in the jumping grooms apartment - they are on the way from the airport having flown in from Liege ahead of their horses. The horses arrive at the venue at about 2 a.m. tomorrow morning so I fear I may need a few ice baths to get me through tomorrow without grabbing a little shuteye. I must admit that this afternoon I did settle in to a chair, turn on some classical music and enjoy a little siesta....dreams of Pimms, relaxing evenings and long lie-ins were rudely interrupted by the reappearance of reality.
Lizzy (Team Leader), Janus (Physio) and Diego (Vet), the Staff Advance Party for jumping, also arrived tonight. Unfortunately Janus and Lizzy could not activate their accreditation at the airport as some glitch in the system caused by a mass reversion to the base norm within the data management of accredited NOC personnel meant they were pulled back to RENOAC (pending) rather than ABTOAC (ready to accredit). If you understand that, then you are one of very very very few people that understand the Olympic Accreditation rules, allocation and management. Luckily we, Team USOC, have one of these rare individuals by the name of Danielle Lopez and she was a way down to the accreditation centre like a woman possessed to sort the issue out; which of course she did in seconds few.
Well the jumping grooms will be here soon and then it will be guided tour and a couple of hours sleep before the lifting and shifting begins again in earnest.
Good luck to all tomorrow!