First day at the Games

After our long day yesterday we had a leisurely breakfast at 8:30.
We had heard from other Kiwi;s at the hotel (must be 90% of guests) that food was hard to get at the venues.

We met our driver at 9:00 to travel to the Velodrome. The first session didn't start till 11:30 am however the agents we are working with wanted to be sue traffic jams did not cause a problem. In the end the commute took 30 minutes. Typical leave plenty of time and the traffic goes with you.

We had to go through 3 check points to get into the velodrome at each check point they were worried about Merens new camera, we said no video no video and eventually were let through.

As we were about to enter the velodrome a senior army or police guy not sure then said no camera's, despite lots of people working in with camera's eg Bev who walked in just before. He really dug his heels in so we appealed to one of the Comm Games Helper staff who got their boss and after 10 minutes standing around outside they moved away and negotiations continued. eventually we were allowed in with the camera. Pretty frustrating.

The Velodrome itself is very nice high roof and very clear views. we are seated on the opposite side of the track to the finish line but pretty much in line with it.

It was great to see Sam after such a long time even if it was from a distance. See below.

It was a good day results wise we saw Eddie Dawkins get a bronze in the Kilo time trial (he had a mechanical, handlebars broke before the start and replacement set slipped on the start otherwise he would have been higher up). It was a bugger that Myron got a 4th after a great kilo ride.

We saw Jesse Sargent get a Silver in the IP. He was coming back at the Ozzy if only it was one more lap !

Tomorrow we see Simon Van Veldhoven in the Keiren and Sam, Eddie and Ethan in the Individual Sprint qualifying and first round sprint.

After the morning session was over 15:30 we had to leave the stadium it was 32-34C I guess but to our delight their were some food concessions open and we got some chicken burgers. In previous days in many venues the security would not let the caterers in because their passes were not correct or something so thousands of people were expected to go from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm without food.

The Games helpers were embarrassed and started giving out water. At the velodrome there was free water available in the morning session provided you drank it in the lobby. In the afternoon a guard was abusing me for drinking water in the lobby.

Meren noticed a Doctors desk in the lobby and Sean and James decided to try it out, we are both on antibiotics to sort out our ailments. James went later and was escorted under the velodrome past all the security into the doctors office and was examined by about 8 people, before being given lots of pills.
All of this was free, amazing. The average Indians cannot do enough to help you. The security unfortunately is overbearing and has random rules that seemed to change and can be challenged sometimes. Two snack bars and a 50ml container of handwash gels was confiscated.

The evening session was 2 heats of the points race and we were chuffed that Aaron Gate made it through to the final tomorrow.

After the evening session we called our driver and met him about 20 minutes after the end and went to a restaurant for Meren's 50th birthday celebration, shouted by Bev and Pete. Cheers guys.

It even included a birthday cake with a candle.