As far as China’s heat and humidity goes, Olyroos coach Graham Arnold says bring it on. Arnold was confident his side would not wilt in the conditions when they take on Serbia in their Olympic tournament opener on Thursday in Shanghai.
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“As far as we’re concerned the hotter and more humid the better,” Arnold said.
It was about 32 degrees celsius when the Olympic team trained in Shanghai today.
Similar temperatures are forecast for the Serbian game and the Olyroos’ second group match against gold medal favourites Argentina on Sunday.
Australia play Ivory Coast in their final group match on August 13 in Tianjin.
“We’ve prepared very well for the Olympic Games,” Arnold said.
“We’ve had to play in searing heat right through the qualifying period and in the last few months we have held camps in Townsville and Darwin as well as games in China, Japan and South Korea.”
The team were planning to lend their basketball counterparts some support from the stands during the Boomers’ final Olympic warm-up match against the powerful United States Dream Team in Shanghai tonight.
Striker Mark Bridge said it would be a treat to watch the Boomers test themselves against the stars of the NBA he had watched for so long on TV.
“For us it’s also a good opportunity to get behind the Boomers and our fellow Aussie Olympians,” Bridge said.
“We had two days in the Olympic Village (in Beijing) and it was special to feel part of the team, but in Shanghai we’re away from it all so to be able to go and support the basketball boys will be good for us.”
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