Ill winds blow at Olympic venues

SYDNEY - One reason for Sydney's successful Olympic Games bid was the temperate weather, but a gust of dissatisfaction over facilities is blowing through the ranks of two major sports.

Athletics and rowing test events in the past fortnight have both been hampered by wind, with little change to alleviate the problem likely before the games begin in September, traditionally the windiest month of the year.

The Australian rowing championships this week have already postponed at least 11/2 days of competition because of winds which have hardly been of cyclone proportions.

But the exposed nature of the $A40 million ($50.36 million) purpose-built course at Penrith has meant the crosswinds are damaging, as they unfairly help rowers on the more sheltered side of the course.

This week New Zealand manager Brian Hawthorne joined local competitors and coaches in criticising the venue.

A bad break with the draw could prove disastrous for Kiwi single sculling gold hopeful Rob Waddell in September.

The tight Olympic programme will not allow for postponements of more than a few hours. That means officials may have no option but to seed the fastest qualifying crews in the most protected lanes.

A rowing commission official, John Boultbee, insisted the course had been designed correctly but said, like any man-made course, it was subject to wind shadows.

The recent Australian athletics championships was the first track and field event to be held at the Olympic Stadium.

To athletes' and organisers' surprise, the giant venue was plagued by inconsistent, swirling winds affecting sprinters and some field events.

- NZPA