KEY POINTS:
It takes determination, resourcefulness and rat cunning to make it at the Olympics. And not just on the field.
New Zealand hockey players Dave Kosoof and Haden Shaw have scored a victory before they played a match.
When they heard that Swiss tennis star Roger Federer was in the athletes village for the day, they went in search of him.
"We went to the international zone, by the gift shop and next thing you know, he's standing there and we thought, 'We can't miss this opportunity',' Kosoof said last night.
Kosoof and Shaw took a photo of the tennis star, then thought they'd be cheeky and ask for one that included themselves. "We said, `Hey, Roger'. He was really cool, really friendly.'
The photo now has pride of place in Kosoof's room. It's not the first time Federer has wowed New Zealand athletes at the Games.
In Athens, he shared a meal in the dining hall with two equestrians, who at first didn't recognise him because he was so low-key. Meeting such international superstars is one of the bonuses of getting to the Olympics.
On the entrance wall of the New Zealand apartment block in Beijing is a quote from Olympic running medallist John Davies reminding them how lucky they are to be where they are:
"To me, being in the village at the Olympic Games is the most important part of what you get out of the Olympic experience.'
Certainly the New Zealand quarters are a welcoming environment.
And you can't miss the Kiwi touch among the countless apartment blocks that make up the athletes' village. Most teams have flags draped out several windows. The Kiwis have them - but they also have two 30m banners unfurled down the side of their nine-storey block, showing a young Maori girl and pohutukawa.
Inside, barista Julianne Frith is churning out the flat whites. She got through 27 litres of milk yesterday, and expects to not have many of her 100kg of coffee beans left by the time the Games are over.
Importantly, the athletes are happy with their rooms too.
Weightlifter Richard Patterson (pictured above) is rooming with five hockey players. "You have to be pretty good flatmates and these guys are good,' he said.
Yes they are. I noticed a pile of running shoes and shin pads out on the balcony. In this heat, that's a very kind gesture.
Eugene Bingham
Pictured above: New Zealand Olympic team weightlifter Richie Patterson pictured in his room at the athletes' village. Photo / Kenny Rodger
