Early Days 2

The games are now starting to ramp up and the quiet Village from these and the last pictures is a thing of the past. Most of the athletes are now in the village, so we are now a buzzing small city. One aspect of a para village that has just occurred to me is that in an able bodied village people do not vary in size a huge amount, and move around really at two speeds walking or running. A para village has a huge variation in size and an even greater variation in speeds from the very slow to the wheelies and bikes flying around. So basically what I am saying is that I am a bit of a hazard here. Also I have to watch the time, as sitting with a wheelchair team at a meal figuring you have lots of time to catch the bus because the whole team is with you can be a brutal mistake. Come time to head for the bus, they will drop you like you are going backwards then laugh as they wait on the bus as you struggle up late and sweating.
For those not aware, the village itself is also quite a spectacle. It is surrounded by an Olympic green, which is basically a large city park inside a walled patrolled fence. Within this fenced area there is a double fence with security gates surrounding the village itself. To get past the outer fence you have to have a pass, and you and your vehicle is searched. By searched we are not taking about chat and go, we are talking about get out of the car and go through an airport type security xray, while they take everything (including the spare tire!) out of the car and scan it as well. The car itself is attacked by ~6 people who pat down the seats, check door and engine compartments while others are crawling under the car searching for anything out of order (see picture). Along this outside fence at about 50 meter intervals are ~3ft square platforms with umbrellas and soldiers standing stock still on them –very creepy and must be boring!
To get past the double fence into the village proper you have to be in an official vehicle and have a village pass. We village people travel in special busses and whip past the first gate, get dropped off at the inner gate and wander through metal detectors and ID swipes into our new temporary home. All very efficient and quick, and thanks to the above efforts very secure. It has been noted that once inside there is little checking of passes, but yesterday on the way back from the pool I tucked my ID inside my shirt and did not make it 10 feet before someone literally materialized out of a bush and asked for my ID.
The Village itself is huge with a large residential area and a smaller common area. The residential area is ~4 large city blocks by 4 large city blocks of 9 story apartment building residences. Within the residence area are “super residence buildings” which are hang out areas with drinks (non alcoholic), TVs, internet and computers, and a video arcade. The common area contains a huge tent cafeteria, a huge fitness/pool area, an International zone of shops, church, stage, hundreds of flag poles, a wheelchair repair shop and a games area. So far the Mc Donalds in the cafeteria is closed (thank goodness). When the games are over the village will be converted into luxury apartment/condos and I have to say the whole area is very plush. Beautiful fountains, statues and flowers dot all of the common areas, making this the nicest games Village I have yet encountered.
The village is teaming with athletes all wearing their national colours, far too many of which are Red and White. Fortunately several of the articles in the Canada gear are distinctive (read ugly) enough to make us easy to spot from a long way away (rather beacon like really)….but that is a story for another day.