Athletes Village filling with energy
The athletes’ village in London is brimming with the kind of energy only Olympians can truly understand.
“The Olympic Games are a totally different beast,” said Beach Volleyball player Martin Reader after returning to the village after training Tuesday. “The energy here is amazing.”
Reader and some of his teammates received a visit Tuesday from Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut and CEO and Secretary General Chris Overholt three days out from the official opening of the Games. As more athletes arrive each day, the Village continues to build with undeniable Canadian unity.
“This is the best that I have ever seen,” said Aubut. “The atmosphere here is spectacular – the flags, the decoration of our Canadian building, everything. This is my 11th Olympic Games, and I can say that after visiting the various operational areas, we are in a perfect state of readiness to perform over fifteen extraordinary days.”
Reader’s partner Josh Binstock agreed the camaraderie at the village is perfectly in line with the same kind of energy he and Reader share on the sand.
“Being here at the Olympic Games is kind of like our Olympic Trial matches,” said Binstock about defeating Ben Saxton and Cristian Redmann for the lone Canadian men’s Olympic spot.
“The energy that worked for us then is with us right now.”
The Team is having an official Flag Raising and Welcome ceremony at the village Wednesday, where Olympic Champ and Chef de Mission Mark Tewksbury is expected to lead this small but mighty community of athletes in a rally.