Shooting Events Isolated in Chateauroux Amidst Organizational ChallengesShooting Events Isolated in Chateauroux Amidst Organizational Challenges At the Paris Olympics, Chateauroux, a small town in central France, is hosting all shooting events. However, the distance from the main Olympic Village and limited transportation options have posed significant challenges for athletes and officials. Norwegian shooting coach Tore Brovold, an Olympic silver medalist, has opted to stay in a hotel outside the village due to a lack of rooms available. This decision has forced him to maintain a distance from national team clay pigeon shooters. Limited public transportation and infrequent bus services have made travel from Paris to Chateauroux arduous. The Organizing Committee provides transportation for those residing outside the village, but coach Brovold has faced schedule disruptions. Due to room shortages, Emin Jafarov, the Azerbaijani deputy chief of mission, also resides in a hotel. The British shooting crew has opted to stay outside the village for culinary reasons. The Indian team of 21 members faces challenges with the food provided at the village and opts to eat out. A team doctor from Portugal experienced transportation delays, arriving only one day after the team. Despite the challenges in Chateauroux, the town showcases the spirit of the Olympics. However, organizational hurdles have impacted the accessibility and experience of athletes and officials, highlighting the need for improved logistics in future Olympic events.
Norwegian shooting coach Tore Brovold, the silver medalist at the 2008 Olympics, has to keep his distance from national team clay pigeon shooters because there are not enough rooms available in the Athletes’ Village.
Chateauroux, a quiet town in central France with a population of less than 50,000, is hosting all of the shooting events at the Paris Olympics. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour train ride from the bustling French capital, leaving 340 Olympians virtually cut off from the heart of the Games.
After the 270 kilometre journey from Paris, travelling to Chateauroux is difficult due to limited public transport, which is also free for everyone.
For athletes, coaches, officials and media residing outside the village, the only way to travel between the Games venues is via transportation provided by the Organizing Committee.
“These Games have been a disaster in terms of transport. I went to the bus stop near the railway station last night, but this morning they changed the timings and the athletes had to continue training in my absence,” Brovold, who has also worked with Indian shotgun shooters, told PTI.
Due to limited room availability, he had to make a choice: either stay in the Games’ Village at the expense of a shooter or stay in a hotel outside. With the best interest of the team in mind, he chose the latter.
“I have also heard that the organisers are offering free accommodation to visiting teams outside the village as they have a shortage of rooms,” the 54-year-old said.
Emin Jafarov, the deputy chief of mission of the Azerbaijani contingent, is also staying in a hotel due to the room shortage.
“I am staying in a hotel because there are not enough rooms in the village and the athletes need it more than I do,” Jafarov said.
The majority of the British shooting crew choose to stay outside the athletes’ village as this ensures they are provided with the food of their choice.
“It just works better for us. The hotel staff are attentive to our individual needs and we can also eat out in different places,” said a Team GB support staff member on condition of anonymity.
The 21-member Indian team also eats out every day because the shooters are not getting the food they want.
“If you want to eat like you eat at home, that is not possible. The shooters have gone out for dinner and that is absolutely fine,” said a coach of the Indian team.
On Sunday, a team doctor from the Portuguese team arrived here due to a delay in transport.
“It’s only been one day so far. I can tell you more about the challenges we face here after three or four days,” the doctor said, declining to be named.
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