Rohit Brijnath observes a curious sight at the Village: athletes mobbing athletes.

In Beijing

IN THE Olympic village, a seemingly odd occurrence is known to happen: Athletes mob athletes.

They want to shake hands, get pictures, claim an autograph. This is understandable because athletes look up to other athletes.

One Olympic gold medallist actually kept a picture of another Olympic gold medallist on his fridge (this is before he met her). I'm talking about Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, but that's another story.

What's a man to do when he meets his hero? But what's a hero to do when he gets manhandled? One might say of Roger Federer's decision not to stay in the village when Michael Phelps does: Why not dude?

Except that Phelps is not Federer. The American steals headlines mostly every four years, the Swiss most every week. Phelps himself said the other day: "I was sitting in the dining hall the other day and Federer was in there and he just got swarmed."

Federer, who has more polish than the Queen's Bentley, stayed in the village in Sydney and Athens. He is a champ with both a common and uncommon touch. But on Thursday he said: "There're so many athletes who want pictures — I don't mind it, but every day for I don't know how long, it's not the ideal preparation to try and win the gold medal."

"I went through it in Sydney and Athens. I had those great experiences and I know what the Olympic Games are all about. Now I can get away from it all and really prepare the perfect way, that's what I'm trying to do."

The village, which was a brilliant idea born in 1932, is the unique mixing of athletes who usually associate with only those within their own sport. Now rowers get to compare biceps with boxers, and gymnasts can show off their flexibility to divers.

When I called Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi on Thursday night, he said "I'm having dinner with the shooters, and it's obviously not something I usually do."

Some athletes play cards, others stay quiet, and some just fall in love.In 1956, American hammer thrower Harold Connolly and Czech discus champion Olga Fikotova said to hell with the Cold War, started a village romance and then got married.

Athletes in Beijing have commented on the vegetation in the Village, the facilities and also the linen. No one's sure what US swimmer Dara Torres was expecting, but she brought sheets and pillows. However, quickly impressed, she said, "I just threw them in the closet. It's like being at a Marriott."

Maybe Federer's just in a better hotel.

Inside the Olympics Village. Source: AFP