Notorious for its light winds, big swells and strong tides, the Olympic sailing venue in Qingdao will provide a new set of challenges and pressure for the competing teams at the 2008 Olympics.
During the build up to the event learning to love such testing conditions has been a challenge in itself, yet one that the world’s best know they have to rise to.
Slimming down for Qingdao has been the talk of the town among many Olympians, yet the venue can also be affected by typhoons. Around 20-30 of them develop each year from July to December and while they usually develop several hundred miles to the south south east and track well to the south of Shanghai, several have made their way up to Qingdao.
Talk is cheap and the Chinese sailing venue has received plenty of it from the day the venue was announced, but the big players know not to take anything for granted. The Olympics has a reputation for throwing a few curve balls and 2008 looks set to be no different.
But despite the uncertainties surrounding the conditions, one thing is for sure, there is no bigger sporting event than the Olympics. Throughout the event we’ll be at the heart of the action bringing you news, views and analysis from the greatest show on earth.
|