Contributed
Hurdler Richard Phillips works out during a training session in China prior to the start of the Olympics. He says the food in the Olympic Village is great.

Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor

BEIJING, China:

COMPETING AT the Olympics is not all about training, training and training.

When training ends, athletes especially, the main people on any national team to the Games, have to find something to occupy that 'downtime' in the Games Village, the living quarters for the athletes and officials.

Some athletes hang out with friends, do a lot of sleeping, listen to music, send emails, eat, or just laze about.

Getting accustomed to a new cuisine in a foreign country can be difficult, but most athletes, the majority of whom are now professionals, know how to adapt.

Jamaica's Olympic Association (JOA) tried to solve the food problem by getting in some 'yard' dishes, prepared by a Jamaican from the country's embassy in China, for the 11-day camp in Tianjin. Corned beef, yam, callaloo, ackee, were all sent there from Jamaica. That was a good move but it did not seem to satisfy all the athletes. Many live in the United States and are now used to a 'burger culture'.

Regional dishes

The Chinese Olympic organisers came up with a good idea to satisfy all the tastes. They provided dishes from every region of the world with the hope that this would go a far way to satisfying every need. There are Asian, Mediterranean and 'international' dishes and lots of fruit at the food courts.

The wide variety of food has got the thumbs-up from national 110 metres hurdles champion Richard Phillips, who now lives in the United States.

"The food in the village is great. There is a wide variety to choose from. It is not one thing every day, and that's good. The food is pretty tasty here. There is also McDonald's that a lot of people are used to. So, those who want to play it safe can go there," the two-time Olympian said earlier this week.

Some athletes have to be careful they do not overeat.

"All the food in the Village is free. You just go and ask for what you want. If you want to go 600 times, you can do that," the Ardenne High past student said.

Phillips likes the variety in the Village.

"The difference between here and Tianjin is variety," he said. "In Tianjin, it was like a set number of dishes and you might have five different things to chose from, while here, you have a big cafeteria and many more things to choose from. Having Jamaican food is good, but I am pretty sure you can get the same nutritional values from what they are cooking here."

A lot to do

Swimmer Jevon Atkinson, who is very much a showman, agrees with Phillips that the food is good and added that there is a lot for athletes to do in their downtime.

"I read and write journals and write letters to my friends back home. I also listen to Bob Marley or just vibes out with the Jamaican track and field guys.

"My joy in coming here is to talk to people from different cultures, get to know them a little bit and to exchange email addresses.

"The Chinese are great hosts. There are lots of things happening around here, the food is awesome, everything is on time, everything is prompt, the laundry service is a day. Only one problem, the entertainment and computer sections - the games room and video arcade - are almost always too packed," Atkinson, the national record holder at 50m freestyle said.

Another swimmer, teenager Natasha Moodie, agreed that it was great fun and good experience to be in the Village, but for her, the food was a challenge.

"Food is okay sometimes, good sometimes, sometimes it is really bad," the first-time Olympian said.

She had better words for the people with whom she crossed paths in the Village.

Interesting motivation

"I get to meet Olympic medallists and world champions and that's really an interesting motivation."

Moodie, who also set a national record in the 50 metres freestyle here, took time out to get familiar with China and its people.

"In addition to viewing sports on TV, I also watched the cultural shows which they put on each night," she said.

The Games Village has been described as the best yet by Jamaica's experienced deputy chef de mission, Compton Rodney. He should know, as he has been in the JOA management team for previous Games.

Phillips, a George Mason University graduate who will bow into competition on Monday, had the last word.

"The facilities in China are world-class. This is the Olympics and you were not going to get anything less than the best. China went all out to make these Games memorable, and they have achieved it," he concluded.