Olympic Diary

THE Beijing Bureau (Aquatic Division) have been moaning about their 6.30am start to watch fit young women training in the superb swimming complex.

However it wasn't just the happenings in the water which caught their eye.

For the duration of the two hour session, wearing the yellow and red uniform known the world over from Ballybunion to Baywatch, lifeguards were perched on high chairs overseeing proceedings and making sure the world’s greatest swimmers didn't run along the edge of the pool. Or at least that’s why we think they were there.

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THE Irish Olympic team are getting into the spirit of their new found land and purchased three bicycles that were painted green, white and gold and have created much amusement in the Village. Speaking of bikes, a report in a local paper claimed that bicycle ownership in Beijing is heading for 10 million as people become more environmentally aware. The good news for Planet Earth may also have a positive for singer Katie Melua who will surely re-record her smash hit Nine Million Bicycles (in Beijing)

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SECURITY is tightening as the Opening ceremony edges closer. An eagle eyed member of our team spotted that manhole covers in and around Olympic venues have been sealed shut with some sort of plastic glue.

Officials check they are not tampered with on a daily basis.

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MEMBERS of the Irish media, including the Irish Examiner's Beijing Bureau, are staying in The Hotel Tibet to the mirth of our international colleagues.

Given the politically sensitive nature of the T word it has been causing a few incidents with one request for directions been met with a quick about face by a local resident who could only understand the one word many in the city have been warned not to talk about.

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A TRUE story. One of our colleagues recounted a conversation he had with a taxi driver after his arrival. The driver had a good standard of English and asked where our friend had travelled from. Hearing he came from Ireland, the cabbie expressed delight that the man in the back seat came from the English speaking part of the country.

His passenger expressed surprise and asked what he meant. His new friend explained how a day earlier he had driven a group from the airport who claimed to be Irish but he was unable to understand most of what they said.

Our friend wondered what part of the country they hailed from.

The man behind the wheel leaned back and smiled: “Like in bottle. Cork.”

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ANY misconceptions about women's basketball have been crushed by Australian superstar Lauren Jackson who has warned of black eyes, broken noses and split lips when the Olympic competition starts. The Opals have lost in the gold medal play-off at the past two Olympics to arch-rivals the United States and judging by a warm-up game in China fists will fly.

The Australians were left with bruises, cut lips and black eyes as the Yanks won 71-67.

Jackson has issued a stinging warning to her rivals that they can give as good as they get.

"Games like that definitely leave a sour taste in your mouth, but it makes you more determined to get them in the future," Jackson, who plays in the United States with WNBA team Seattle, said yesterday.

“In terms of physicality we're used to playing against teams that are going to beat the crap out of us because we are so good. People have to stop us somehow, and that's the way they're going to stop us especially people like us; Penny Taylor and myself and Belinda Snell who you just can't let go to the basket because we'll kill people. So they're going to really stop us anyway that they can and generally that's when black eyes and broken bones occur.”