The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games "will force swimming's elite to adopt some nocturnal habits as preparations are stepped up," according to Ryland James of the AFP.
The world championships finished on Sunday in Kazan, Russia. Kazan "is already forgotten -- it's all about Rio from now on -- and lots of late nights."
Traditionally, the swimming section of the Olympics "involves morning heats and early evening finals." But to capitalize on the U.S. TV market, the Rio finals are scheduled to start at 10pm local time, with the heats beginning at 1pm.
It means many medals "will be decided around midnight." For the swimmers, the unusual schedule "is just part of their job description." Australian Mitchell Larkin: "You walk out for a final and the timing is the last thing on your mind. It will be late in Rio, but it's part and parcel of being an athlete. All we can do is prepare" (AFP, 8/10). REUTERS' Rod Gilmour wrote of the top nations, only Swimming Australia, which "had originally opposed the decision, had seemingly cemented a plan to deal with the late evening finals." They "will hold a week-long, pre-Rio training camp later this year, with a two-day Grand Prix meet in between."
The idea "is to replicate what the athletes will experience in Rio." Australia’s stance "was in stark contrast to rival nations, with British Swimming remaining coy on the issue." Great Britain head coach Bill Furniss:
"We have planned for it but we don’t want to reveal our strategy." Denmark High Performance Manager Lars Bach: "It’s a challenge that the times have been moved." Adjusting body clocks "was less of a concern for the Japan Swimming Federation, which will raise the issue of practice times in the week leading up to competition" with world swimming body FINA and the IOC (REUTERS, 8/10). The AP reported the decision to host some finals after midnight "has come under fire." Australian head coach Jacco Verhaeren: “We will prepare for it, but it’s a pretty irresponsible decision that has been made."
The schedule "will suit the North American television audience" with Rio one hour ahead of N.Y., and four ahead of the U.S. west coast. It also "suits Asia." FINA Exec Dir Cornel Marculescu: "We said no. But it’s not us who decides. It’s an IOC event and we have to respect it. We have to adapt … Television is very important, for everybody.”
FINA "is working to ensure that swimmers will be lodged on the top floors in the village to avoid disturbances and let them sleep later than other athletes." Marculescu: “The quality of food, availability of food, and transportation will be assured. And there will be two temporary pools in the village for training … we are trying to facilitate as much as possible" (AP, 8/10).
