-
Top class: Shunyi rowing venue
Also see
The first group of rowers practising at the Olympic venue at Shunyi heaped praise on the organisers for creating a unique rowing venue.
Both the rowing and canoeing will be staged at the new Shunyi Olympic rowing park which features a huge racing lake and warm-up area.
Also, unusually for a rowing venue there is a 500m-long stand for spectators to cheer on their heroes as they power their way to the line.
"It's beautiful," said Canada's Cameron Sylvester.
"Rowing is not renowned for being a spectator sport, but with the stands being so close, and 500 metres long, it should make for a good atmosphere."
"It is easily 10 degrees hotter and with the humidity it makes it a challenge, but we are slowly getting used to it."
Visibility
The usual visibility problems are making life somewhat difficult though, with visibility down to 1000 metres fans at the finish are unable to see half of the course.
Conditions will also be tough for those in the boats, with scorching temperatures and high humidity leading Britain's Olivia Whitlam to liken it to rowing through a steam room.
"The rowing course is fantastic," said Ireland's Richard Archibald.
"It's got a great feeling of speed and with the stands so close it should be a great atmosphere.
"We were training in north Italy before we came so we could try to adapt to the conditions."
The racing begins on the first day proper of the Olympics on August 9, and runs until August 17.
"It's really impressive, a top course and the best I have ever seen," said France's Pierre-Jean Peltier, who will race in the men's quad sculls.
"I say congratulations to China for this because it's very impressive."
