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	THE ATHLETES VILLAGE The 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Athletes Village is literally a village set up just for the Commowealth Games. It has all the services you need, transportation system, police force and even a Mayor!! The villages' population is made up of approximately 6,000 athletes plus support staff. The village is a bit of a secret to the 'outside' world as only few are actually allowed to enter. If you are not an athlete or staff, you need a guest pass to enter. Even the press has to wait outside the gates and conduct interviews and photos there. As you enter the village, a full security check is set up. Exactly the same as the security you go through in the airports. Security is a big issue here. With all the police and security guards around I feel very safe!! Everybody that enters the village has an identification card. There is a bar code that is scanned with little electronics everywhere you go. Well, mostly the food areas!!! Entering the Village is a bit like entering a bit of a time warp. Imagine walking through streets that have various flags of all the Commonwealth countries set up in their windows. People are lingering around, hanging out, playing hacky sack, frisbee or just walking. You see people, to name a few, from Jamaica, England, India, Africa, China, Australia, New Zealand and so many more countries. All of these people are elite athletes here to represent their country. Everybody is fit, everybody is healthy and everybody looks happy. It is kind of like 'the perfect little world' for 10days. It is quite an amazing environment. THE DINING HALL If you picture every single, most healthy meal you can possibly think of...it is here. Err, there are also alot of desserts!!! I can't begin to name everything that is available. From healthy pizza's to lean cut meats, fish, indian food, african food, chinese food, sushi, pasta dishes, salad bars, fruit bars, gourmet salad bars, gourmet fresh bread, pastries, desserts, icecream, yogurt, fancy coffees, juice, water etc etc. Every item of food, in cafeteria style, has the full nutritional value including calories, fat, protein etc. So before you endulge in those fries or dessert, check out the grams of fat and calories!!! The most caloric dessert I have LOOKED at :-) is a small small square of chocolate peanut butter something with 2,000calories and 51grams of fat!! That is your entire caloric input for a day!!! The dining hall experience is like going to a restaurant without ever having to pay! THE BBQ AND CAFE This is another dining area that has a small variety but it is more eat/take away. The best part to this dining area is the BBQ, the cafe with the best cappucino's I have tasted, and the fresh juice bar!! There is nothing like coming home from a training ride in 35degree weather, riding right to a fresh juice bar and ordering whatever kind of freshly squeezed juice you want. You don't even have to make it!!! Now that is recovery. Also at an arms reach are roasted vegetable wraps, salads, sandwiches, kebabs and hot breakfast items in the morning. THE INTERNATIONAL ZONE!! Let me tell you, there is no excuse here for not relaxing and recovering. In the international zone there are the following at our fingertips: 100 computers, phone room, hair salon and spa (athletes get free haircuts!! I got mine on the 3rd day, along with eyebrow tint!!) post office, flower shop, camera shop, general store, X-BOX room with about 20 big screen xbox computer players, travel agent, icecream parlour, and a bar/lounge area upstairs. As I write this, there is somebody playing live piano, there are sports on big screen t.v's and best of all it is airconditioned!!! Outside is a big lawn with stage where presentations are made, bands and music performers play, workshops like digeradoo, and henna art are held, and at night (after the music entertainment), a big screen movie plays outside, complete with layback chairs, blankets and popcorn!! As you walk around the village, you may just run into jugglers, clowns, mimes, big giant people on stilts, people in boats, and many many more different kinds of street performers all day!!! You can not possibly check out everything that is going on here!!!

THE ATHLETES VILLAGE

The 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Athletes Village is literally a village set up just for the Commowealth Games. It has all the services you need, transportation system, police force and even a Mayor!! The villages' population is made up of approximately 6,000 athletes plus support staff.

The village is a bit of a secret to the 'outside' world as only few are actually allowed to enter. If you are not an athlete or staff, you need a guest pass to enter. Even the press has to wait outside the gates and conduct interviews and photos there.

As you enter the village, a full security check is set up. Exactly the same as the security you go through in the airports. Security is a big issue here. With all the police and security guards around I feel very safe!!

Everybody that enters the village has an identification card. There is a bar code that is scanned with little electronics everywhere you go. Well, mostly the food areas!!!

Entering the Village is a bit like entering a bit of a time warp. Imagine walking through streets that have various flags of all the Commonwealth countries set up in their windows. People are lingering around, hanging out, playing hacky sack, frisbee or just walking. You see people, to name a few, from Jamaica, England, India, Africa, China, Australia, New Zealand and so many more countries. All of these people are elite athletes here to represent their country. Everybody is fit, everybody is healthy and everybody looks happy. It is kind of like 'the perfect little world' for 10days. It is quite an amazing environment.

THE DINING HALL

If you picture every single, most healthy meal you can possibly think of...it is here. Err, there are also alot of desserts!!! I can't begin to name everything that is available. From healthy pizza's to lean cut meats, fish, indian food, african food, chinese food, sushi, pasta dishes, salad bars, fruit bars, gourmet salad bars, gourmet fresh bread, pastries, desserts, icecream, yogurt, fancy coffees, juice, water etc etc. Every item of food, in cafeteria style, has the full nutritional value including calories, fat, protein etc. So before you endulge in those fries or dessert, check out the grams of fat and calories!!! The most caloric dessert I have LOOKED at :-) is a small small square of chocolate peanut butter something with 2,000calories and 51grams of fat!! That is your entire caloric input for a day!!! The dining hall experience is like going to a restaurant without ever having to pay!

THE BBQ AND CAFE

This is another dining area that has a small variety but it is more eat/take away. The best part to this dining area is the BBQ, the cafe with the best cappucino's I have tasted, and the fresh juice bar!! There is nothing like coming home from a training ride in 35degree weather, riding right to a fresh juice bar and ordering whatever kind of freshly squeezed juice you want. You don't even have to make it!!! Now that is recovery. Also at an arms reach are roasted vegetable wraps, salads, sandwiches, kebabs and hot breakfast items in the morning.

THE INTERNATIONAL ZONE!!

Let me tell you, there is no excuse here for not relaxing and recovering. In the international zone there are the following at our fingertips:

100 computers, phone room, hair salon and spa (athletes get free haircuts!! I got mine on the 3rd day, along with eyebrow tint!!) post office, flower shop, camera shop, general store, X-BOX room with about 20 big screen xbox computer players, travel agent, icecream parlour, and a bar/lounge area upstairs. As I write this, there is somebody playing live piano, there are sports on big screen t.v's and best of all it is airconditioned!!!

Outside is a big lawn with stage where presentations are made, bands and music performers play, workshops like digeradoo, and henna art are held, and at night (after the music entertainment), a big screen movie plays outside, complete with layback chairs, blankets and popcorn!!

As you walk around the village, you may just run into jugglers, clowns, mimes, big giant people on stilts, people in boats, and many many more different kinds of street performers all day!!!

You can not possibly check out everything that is going on here!!!