KEY POINTS:
Rowing New Zealand (RNZ) is shocked and angered at the cancellation of its Beijing Olympic Games accommodation by Chinese authorities.
High performance manager Andrew Matheson said news of the cancellation came as a "major surprise" and expected it to motivate his team, comprising several crews who are genuine
medal prospects.
"Even though we had our accommodation booked, confirmed and paid for in full, the Chinese have decided otherwise and moved us," Matheson said in a statement.
"We don't really know why they would do that and not tell us."
RNZ rented accommodation in the Shunyi district for the Games' duration in August, close to where the rowing and canoeing competition will be held. Hotel fees of about $110,000 were paid in full.
Its location meant the rowers could avoid a lengthy daily commute between the Olympic village and the venue.
Matheson was first alerted to rumours last week that all teams booked into the hotel had been moved without notification to the village.
Among other teams affected were the British.
"As far as we know, the hotel has been apologetic to all those in international rowing affected, and we are confident of a full refund," Matheson said.
"But that doesn't alter the fact that neither they nor the event organisers had any official communication advising us whatsoever.
"We only found out indirectly when rumours started to fly around about other teams being moved against their wishes from what was our first choice hotel.
"Had we not found out, it is quite possible we could have arrived, along with several other teams, and found out that we had different, or at worst no accommodation.
"It's not really acceptable but that's how it is."
The International Olympic Committee is powerless in the affair as it is obliged only to ensure there is accommodation for athletes in the Olympic village.
RNZ officials are resigned to the team staying in the village, something they had planned for as a secondary option.
Special Olympic traffic lanes and police escorts mean travel to the venue will take 20-25 minutes.
"Having been in Beijing last year for the junior world championships and experienced similar unfathomable bureaucracy and bizarre restriction, we always had a Plan B in case something like this happened. We have obviously now initiated this," Matheson said.
"I don't know if other teams have similar adaptability, but we will be largely unaffected and would definitely hope to turn it into a motivator for the whole rowing team."
- NZPA
