Early arrival to help Olympic bets acclimatize

Regardless of their different points of origin, Filipino athletes who will compete in the Rio Olympics will be required to check in at the Athletes Village on July 24 or at least 10 days before the event unfolds.

Jose Romasanta, chef-de-mission of the Philippine delegation, wants the Filipino bets to be there early so they could adjust to the surroundings and, if possible, ahead of the others.

The Athletes Village will be opened to the athletes on July 24 even as officials from the participating countries will start coming in, in trickles, starting on July 18.

“We prefer our athletes to be in by July 24. We want them to be in Rio 10 days before the opening, whether they’re coming from Manila or the United States,” said Romasanta.

The boxers, for one, may end up heading to Rio from their training camp either in Cuba or the United States.

The trip from Manila to Rio is back-breaking, and may take as much as 30 hours depending on the length of the layover from Manila to Dubai to Rio.

“We expect our athletes to be jet-lagged so it’s better for them to be there 10 days before. We expect them to lose two days of training,” said Romasanta.

Once inside the Athletes Village, said to be the biggest in history, Filipino athletes will learn how to mingle with their fellow athletes numbering more than 10,000.

The finest athletes from around the world will be there, including the superstars of their respective sports, and Romasanta wants Pinoy athletes to get used to seeing them.

“We want our athletes to imbibe the environment and shake off the excitement. We want them to feel the competition,” he said.

Athletes will have to learn how to control themselves, especially when in the dining hall where they will cross paths with the finest athletes.

Otherwise, they may end up wasting their time taking selfies.

“Kailangan masanay sila. I want them to be there early so by the time the competitions begin, they have gotten used to the environment,” said Romasanta. “We will arrive as one,” he said. Leaving Rio, however, is a different thing because athletes are required to check out two days after their respective events.

“Others will leave for home ahead of the rest,” Romasanta said.