York Region Olympians glad they made trip to Rio for 2016 Summer Olympics

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 28, 2016
By Michael Hayakawa

Prior to the start of the 2016 Summer Olympics, participants were warned the Games in Rio de Janeiro could be a disaster.

With incidents of the Zika virus circulating within Brazil along with concerns of heavily polluted water and criminal activity in Rio, the Games did not appear to be too inviting for the athletes in pursuit of Olympic gold, silver or bronze.

But when York Region residents who were members of Canada’s Olympic entourage returned to Toronto from the 2016 Summer Games last week, they said the concerns raised beforehand were exaggerated.

In fact, they sung high praises about their experiences in Rio, saying it was an experience they won’t soon forget.

“We expected the worst based on the press ahead of time on stuff like mosquitoes, garbage, crime and some of the facilities not being ready on time,” said Dave Ross, a Richmond Hill resident and veteran Canadian Olympic trampoline coach who attended his fifth Summer Olympics.

Arriving home Tuesday with two-time gold medalist and King City resident Rosie MacLennan and Nobleton’s Jason Burnett, Ross was glad things turned out for the better as he felt a disaster could have set the tone for future sites hosting the Summer Olympics.

“I was a little worried because it could happen at another Olympics. But things were pretty good. The facilities were ready and the security was good. When it came time for the Olympics to start they delivered.

“It was a good overall experience.”

Competing in his second Olympics for Canada in beach volleyball, Richmond Hill resident Josh Binstock was quick to point out there’s always negative news before the start of the Games.

But during his time competing with fellow Richmond Hill resident Sam Schacter, who made his Olympic debut, Binstock felt there were no issues at all.

Stouffville resident Richard Parkinson, who served as a coach for five throwers on Canada’s track and field team at the Games and was recently named as the new throws coach for Athletics Canada, said he never felt any threat during his time in Rio.

He said the enjoyment Canadian athletes experienced at the 2016 Games could be attributed in large part to the yeoman work put in by the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Before athletes and coaches arrived in Rio, the COC briefed them on the do’s and don’ts when they were at the Games.

Another big factor that helped the Canadian athletes enjoy their stay was the due diligence the COC put fourth in seeing their housing within the Olympic Village was ready for their arrival.

“They (COC) worked with the Brazilians in getting things like the plumbing and electricity done well beforehand. They dressed up our building. It was clean and safe and you couldn’t miss it. It was fantastic,” Parkinson said. “In getting hot water, sure we had to be a little patient at first with so many athletes being in the village. But once the hot water got going, it was scalding hot.

“Don’t forget, there were around 11,000 athletes in the village. To move them and feed them, not everything is perfect. Sure there were some hiccups but once they got going, it was good. It could have been a huge logistic nightmare.

“The COC looked after us.”

“The COC did a world class job when it came to preparing the team and staff - credit to them,” agreed Sandro Fiorino, a Markham resident who made his Olympic debut as an assistant coach with the bronze medal-winning Canadian women’s rugby team.

As an equestrian competitor who was making her second Olympic appearance for Canada in dressage, Stouffville resident Belinda Trussell elected to join the other athletes at the Olympic Village. During the 2000 Games in Athens, she stayed with her husband outside of the village.

Her decision this time around proved to be a wise choice as she described the amenities as being first class.

“It was clean and comfortable. They did a good job,” she said.

Acknowledging he had some concerns prior to the start of the Games, Fiorino couldn’t have been happier with the living quarters.

It almost felt like home, he said.

Trussell also felt some kudos should be given to the Rio Organizing Committee in eradicating any fears or concerns athletes might have had, particularly with exposuer to the Zika virus.

 “I never saw any mosquitoes or bugs," she said. "They took a lot of precautions to fumigate the village.”