‘THE OTHERS ARE TERRIFIED OF YOU’
Prince of Wales has confided to Australian competitors that they are the team that “everyone is terrified of” at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Prince Charles overstayed a planned half hour visit to meet more than 250 excited competitors at the athletes village at the University of Birmingham, on the eve of the opening ceremony where he was to formally open the Games on behalf of her Majesty the Queen.
Amid myriad requests for selfies and receiving pins and gifts, Charles, 73, was treated to a hero’s welcome from athletes from the 72 nations competing in these Games.
Charles spoke to Australian swimmer Mitch Larkin and diver Melissa Wu, smartly attired in their formal outfits and RM Williams boots asking where they were from and what sports they did.
Larkin told him the Prince he was from Brisbane and Charles responded with a question him about the floods in Australia and how everyone affected was faring.
Charles then met another group of Australians further along an avenue of Commonwealth flags which included swim officials Mel Tantrum, Janelle Elford, chef de mission Petria Thomas and para swimmer Ellie Cole and backstroker Holly Barratt.
He told them, with a broad smile, perhaps having heard that Australia was hoping to eclipse 1000 gold medals in the history of the Games and to top this edition’s medal tally: “You are the team that the others are terrified of”.
The Australians quickly replied that it would be only in competition that the others should be afraid.
“We are actually very friendly,” swimming team manager Mel Tantrum assured him.
Charles then asked about jet lag and whether that would give an advantage to the host country, EnTHE gland. But the biggest cheers for Charles came from the Wales women’s hockey team who surrounded him and heard stories about how when he played hockey “back in the day, there were no such things as gum shields or shin guards.” A colourfully attired Sierra Leone 400m runner Va-shaku Sheriff was the first to convince the prince to have a selfie.
Sheriff said: “I just shook his hand and said it is very good to meet you and then I panicked .I asked him, “Sir it is an honour and I would really love to have a selfie with you, and he said yes and he shook my hand and then he shook my hand again. Twice, two times. I took off my hat and did this (bowed).” Sheriff was so thrilled he then did a small jig, and quickly posted the picture to his family back home. A striking Rwandan team was also electrified by meeting Charles, and as well as getting a team photo with him, they extracted a promise that he would attend some of their competitions.