into my dormitory style apartment block and being kindly shown to the dinner
hall.
Arrival
Arriving at the Guangzhou East Train Station the first thing you notice is a
clean, efficient immigration and customs center.
For those of us the have accreditation cards, which must number in excess of
20,000, we are able to access that much sought after 'fast lane' through the health check, immigration and customs to the validation of accreditation
cards center and out to the waiting transport that takes you away to the secure Villages.
The immigration staff and volunteers are racing each other to meet & greet
you and take you by the hand all the way through. I wonder if this
accreditation card can last for the next 6 months!Transport
Transport provided by Asian Games for ITO...
I decided to 'try out' public transport to the Tech Official Village. I like
it. I took a taxi. Taxi line was long but there was continuos movement and
plenty of taxis. Communication with taxi driver was interesting...my broken
putonghua his sign language...a phone call and a couple of "hey bro do you
where the Tech Officials Village is?" and were there. Well 45 minute drive.
Food - Dinner
I happy to say buffer style is the process for obtaining your food so
therefore they get top marks already from me! Plenty of salads, fruit,
carbos, protein, juice, milk, water...and ice cream (chinese styles)!
Accommodation
Single rooms with a common lounge and bathroom for 5 people...ah...the good
old days
Clean, working, functional...internet...
What more can you ask for!
Jarrad Gallagher
Rgional General Manager Asia
International Rugby Board
