Set To Go

Raylene Bates with her 2007 national athletics squad.

Hong Kong is a handy three hours' flight from Beijing. The climate is similarly hot and sticky and the time zone is the same. Add in concerns about air quality in Beijing and the wilting pressure of the Games environment itself and Hong Kong becomes your ideal pre-competition base.

That's the thinking for the New Zealand track and field team, says team manager Raylene Bates. When the Olympic Games opens on 8 August, the athletes will still be in Hong Kong (as will the New Zealand equestrian team whose competition takes place there due to international quarantine demands). "That's been the plan right from the start - it's what the athletes want," says Bates.

The team will be in Hong Kong from early August. They'll then travel to Beijing in several waves, four or five days before the events - from about 10 August. "Athletes want to do what's best for their performance. While the Olympics Games Opening Ceremony is an incredible experience, our athletes will come into the village according to their competition schedule and the availability of training venues," she explains.

After the Olympic Games closes, Bates will quickly don her second hat – that of track and field manager and field coach for the Paralympic team. The Paralympians are also basing themselves in Hong Kong, with a few of the athletes joined by a training partner. "It's all about keeping continuity and quality of training right up to the last minute," reflects Bates.

Reinforcing the Hong Kong strategy, the Australian Olympic Team track and field athletes are doing the same thing. In fact, the Australians are even based at the same pre-Games location: Hong Kong University which has a New Zealander amongst its senior management.

"The university has everything," enthuses Bates. "There's a fantastic new track, full weight training facilities, pool, and conference rooms. The hotel is very close. It's right by the sea so there's a breeze. We're expecting mid 30s Centigrade with very high humidity which allows athletes to acclimatise. It's the perfect solution".

As for having our trans-Tasman rivals so close, here's the truth: there are strong ties between the two teams, at least outside the stadium entrance. "We work very closely with the Australians even to sharing some things like the track, weights area etc. For instance they allow us to use their team doctor in emergency situations, when we don't have one travelling. We have a great relationship," Bates reveals.

As with all the athletes' training, the process of preparation began long ago. Bates was appointed to the Olympic track and field manager role 18 months ago. The idea was to have continuity from Commonwealth Games and through the World Championships to Beijing. "I've been working with athletes and coaches, making sure everyone has information on issues, acclimatisation and so on," she says.

She notes that the venue of the 2007 World Championships was Osaka, Japan, where the environmental conditions were very similar to what is expected in Beijing. "It was very hot. It allowed athletes to understand what it is like competing in that heat, and to make changes to remedy any issues encountered in Osaka".

The track and field team has not come together as one, before Hong Kong. As she says, that's virtually impossible when athletes are spread out all over the world. However, Bates led some of the team to Beijing in September 2007 (no coincidence, the same season as the Games) and again for the Good Luck Games in May 2008. "Most of the athletes have had a taste of what it is like in Beijing," she concludes.

Bates' two management roles are voluntary, but "track and field is my passion and I get a lot of enjoyment out of it", she explains. Her paid job is business manager of the New Zealand Academy of Sport: South Island. Bates is also coach of an armful of international, national and regional class athletes. That's where her role in the Paralympics team started.

Bates has coached Jessica Hamill, who will contest the shot put, discus and javelin events, since 2006. The Paralympics track and field squad is small – just five athletes – and it's about making the most of everyone's skills. At the Paralympics, Bates will be responsible for coaching the field athletes on a day to day basis - but also managing all the track and field athletes.

The Olympic track and field coaching team consists of two appointed coaches: John Bowden and Kirsten Hellier. In addition there are four personal coaches travelling with the team, coaching specific athletes: (Ross Dallow for Beatrice Faumuina; Marlon Gevaert for James Dolphin; Stephen Willis for Nick Willis and Debbie Strange for Stuart Farquhar). However the personal coaches won't stay in the village or have access to the stadium or warm-up areas.

The Paralympics team has two coaches, Bates and Alan Clouston. None of the Paralympians' personal coaches are going beyond Hong Kong.

Bates has the unavoidable pressure – and anticipation – well knuckled-down but she's definitely excited. "There are always going to be unknowns. I'll be really glad when it all begins and I can get into it," she says. Forecasting the outcome is impossible, but she's optimistic: "I feel this would be one of our better teams. I personally feel we will get some fantastic results."

Raylene Bates lives with her husband and two sons in Mosgiel. She was a field athlete herself, and then got into coaching at club, provincial and national level. She has turned her own competitive spirit to multi-sport, doing the 2007 Speight's Coast to Coast and three-day Goldrush in Otago. "But I made the decision to put that on hold for this year," she laughs.

Updated | 31 Oct 2008.

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