While all the other Olympic venues remain relatively quiet, the training base for Olympic sailing in Qingdao has been quite busy over the past two weeks. Some 300 sailors from 33 countries and regions are about to begin final preparations ahead of the games, but not before a major cleanup in the water is needed.
While all the other Olympic venues remain relatively quiet, the training base for Olympic sailing in Qingdao has been quite busy over the past two weeks.
With the actual competition venue still closed to all, sailors from around the world have been training at the Qingdao International Yatching Club. During a two-week training sessions, the teams have mainly focused on getting themselves used to the wind power and direction, as well as the movement of the waves off the coast Qingdao.
Hosts China automatically qualify for all 11 events in the sport, but they're maturing only in events of the men's and the women's windsurfing, and the women's Laser and 470 classes.
As the weather is by far the biggest factor affecting sailing, an automatic weather network covering the city is in place to provide detailed meteorological information for all the teams.
A massive clean up has also begun in the coastal city, after an infestation of algae smothered the sailing venue. Up to 10,000 workers have been drafted in to help remove the algae, which covers an estimated 5000 square miles.
(CCTV July 4, 2008)