(ATR) London 2012 tennis champion Andy Murray and high profile golfers Justin Rose and Danny Willett will arrive in Rio this week.
Team GB chef de mission Mark England confirmed that the elite athletes will check in to the Olympic village over the upcoming days during the British Olympic Association’s opening press conference at the Main Press Center on Monday in Rio.
"Murray flies in today and may very well be checking into the Olympic village over the next 48 hours," England said.
Rose and Willett will be part of Team GB’s delegation in the parade of nations, while Murray is also hoping to join, but it depends on the men’s singles as tennis gets underway in Barra da Tijuca on Saturday, August 6.
"At the moment, we would expect tennis to be in the opening ceremony," England said.
He said that the four Team GB golfers are thrilled to participate in Olympic festivities as the sport returns to the Games for the first time in more than a century.
"Justin is absolutely jumping at the bit to march as part of the team, part of the delegation – they’re definitely looking forward to it and being in the Ceremony," England said.
"Danny is living in the village and Justin has a support mechanism with him – we got him tickets to diving and gymnastics and after that he’ll be concentrating on his preparation living quite close to the course," said Team GB’s chef de mission.
Due to competition schedules and arrival dates, only 55 of Team GB’s 366 Olympians will march in the opening ceremony.
Including Murray, Rose and Willett all of Team GB’s 366 Olympians will stay in the village for at least part of their time in Rio.
Regarding selection of a flagbearer for Team GB, England advised that nominations from all sports must be submitted by Monday’s deadline of 5 p.m.
Team GB Plumber at "Best Athletes Village"
Considering problems that Australia dealt with upon arrival at the Olympic village last week, Team GB has brought aboard their own personal utility man for the delegation’s 17-story block.
"We've got our own plumber and he comes in on a daily basis – he’s not at all overworked and he’s just there in case something gets stuck," England told journalists at the Team GB news conference.
"Or maybe somebody’s shower is a bit colder in the morning than they would have liked," he said.
Despite using their own dedicated service man, England praised the work of the village staff.
"The HQ team has been fantastic – there’s been 10 people working tirelessly to make it a real home for us," England said.
"The fire service has completed testing of our building on a number of occasions and we’re satisfied with that.
"I can’t comment on the stories that have ruminated from other National Olympic Committees, but for us they’ve come on and done the job.
"The Rio 2016 organizing committee has really stepped up over the past two weeks to make what we genuinely think is the best Athletes Village that we’ve ever been in."
Written by Brian Pinelli in Rio de Janeiro
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