KEY POINTS:
Rowing New Zealand is seeing the effects of Chinese bureaucracy first hand.
Despite paying over $100,000 to stay at an hotel near the rowing centre for the Beijing Olympics, their booking has been over-ridden by organisers.
High Performance Manager Andrew Matheson says he does not understand the motivation for stopping the booking, but apparently the organising committee has told hotels they need to cancel the bookings.
He says while they can work well from the Olympic village if they have to, it has certainly been an interesting exercise and hopes there is nothing underhand involved.
There has been some talk that the Chinese team is now staying in the hotel.
Mr Matheson says they have been assured of a refund but the British team, which was also booked into the hotel, is fighting the eviction.
Staying in the Olympic village means an hour round trip to the venue.
- NEWSTALK ZB
