Olympics: New approach by NZ athletics team

Athletics New Zealand learned some hard lessons in Athens in 2004 and has taken steps to avoid the same mistakes at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Beijing team manager Raylene Bates (43) said the athletics team went into the Athens Olympics not properly prepared, and she did not want to repeat the mistakes this time.

Preparation was different this year, largely owing to the work of Sparc and the acclimatisation team led by Dunedin's Richard Young and Jim Cotter.

Young is in charge of research and innovation technology for Sparc and is based at the Academy of Sport.

"I can't underestimate the work that Richard and Sparc have done in backing this Olympic team. They have gone to every length to make sure everything goes right," Bates said.

"We have been very strict with the athletics team.

"That's why we're going to Hong Kong to acclimatise and get used to the heat, humidity and pollution to get the athletes prepared to go into Beijing.

"When they hit Beijing, they compete."

Each athlete has at least 10 days of preparation in Hong Kong.

The first athletes go to Beijing on August 10, the last arrives on August 17.

World shot put champion Valerie Vili is the only exception.

She is preparing in Townsville and will fly to Beijing from Brisbane on August 11.

She is scheduled to compete on August 16.

"It is the same format that Valerie used before winning the world championship gold medal at Osaka last year," Bates said.

Bates does not expect any other problems. "It is just a matter of dealing with the issues and making sure they do not manifest into a problem. It is just a matter of getting on with it."

The athletics team was not going to the opening ceremony.

It was the athletes' choice.

"They want to compete to the best of their ability and voted not to attend the opening ceremony," Bates said.

"We will join the equestrian team, which is also based in Hong Kong, for the team function and link with the rest of the New Zealand team by video."

Bates has prepared for her role at the Olympic Games by filling a coaching role at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and managing the team that competed in the world championships in Osaka.

The Olympics will be her fifth visit to Beijing.

Her fourth visit, for the Good Luck Games last May, was the worst so far.

"There was still a lot of pollution and there was a lot of grit in the air as well," she said.

"It was scary. It was getting into your eyes and there was dirt around you the whole time."

Her first visit was for the world junior championships in August 2006.

"There was a lot of pollution. You could taste it," she said.

"On my two other visits the weather was beautiful, with clear blue skies, and the environment was great.

"We have had acclimatisation plans and procedures in place, and the majority of our athletes have been to Beijing and know what it is like. I'm not expecting any surprises."

Sparc set up an acclimatisation committee to collect data on heat, humidity and pollution and sent the information back to the respective sports' officials.

They know what to expect with carbon monoxide and other worst-case scenarios.

"Athletes have been put through lung capacity tests to find out who could end up with asthma-like symptoms under chronic situations.

We have dealt with that now instead of getting surprises at Beijing, " Bates said.

At the Good Luck Games in May, Bates made contact with key officials.

"I know exactly what we are in for at the Olympics. We are going into Beijing with no stone unturned," she said.

Bates, who will be overseas for nine weeks until the end of September, is a New Zealand team coach for the Paralympics.

Former Black Fern captain Helen Littleworth (42) has been appointed physiotherapist with the New Zealand team.

She was captain of the Black Ferns team that finished runner-up at the World Cup in 1990.

She also played hockey for New Zealand from 1986-88.

"It won't be a holiday," she said.

"We will be working long hours. But it will be a fantastic experience.

"It's a lifetime dream for me. I'm just going for it.

Its a huge honour to be a physiotherapist for the New Zealand Olympic team.

She held a similar post at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, with the Black Ferns and at the world athletics championships in Osaka last year.

Littleworth spent five days in Beijing after the championships in Osaka last year to get an insight into Chinese life.

Littleworth will be based at the National Stadium (the Bird's Nest) with the track and field team during the second week.

She recognises that her role is psychological as well as physical.

"It is a hugely mental role," Littleworth said.

"If any athlete pulls a hamstring or calf muscle they are gone. There is no way we will get them back for the Olympics.

"They will come to me for relaxation and making sure the muscles are relaxed."

NZ Athletes

Olympic prospects

Hot shot: Valerie Vili (shot put).

Top 5: Kimberley Smith (10,000m), Nick Willis (1500m), Beatrice Faumuina (discus).

Dark horse: Nina Rillstone (marathon).