Two women's beach volleyball tandems are the first teams to appear at the Chaoyang Park beach volleyball ground for practice sessions Tuesday morning.
The Cuban teams of Dalixia Fernandez Grasset/Tamara Larrea Peraza and Milagros Crespo/Imara Esteves Ribalta arrived in the Chinese capital late Saturday with their coach Osvaldo Abrew Archer.
Many teams participating in the Olympics beach volleyball competition are in Austria for the last FIVB World Tour tournament which will last until August 3.
The Cubans said they came to Beijing early to adapt themselves to the play ground and climate in Beijing as well.
"Everything has gone smoothly right now and we are impressed with what we have seen so far. We are excited and eager to get on the sand for some training," said Grasset, who is for the third time at the Olympics.
While Grasset and the 34-year Peraza finished ninth at both the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Summer Games, Crespo and Ribalta are making their debuts at the Olympics.
Both teams finished among the qualifiers for the Beijing Games with Grasset/Peraza 13th and Crespo/Ribalta 16th.
"We have heard a lot from Dalixia and Tamara about their Olympic experiences in Sydney and Athens," said the 29-year old Crespo. "Now, we can enjoy the same feelings along with representing our country in Beijing. "
Both teams will be competing in pools with top-ranked teams from the United States when competition begins August 9 and concludes for the women's medal matches on August 21.
Grasset/Peraza is grouped with reigning champions, U.S. pair Walsh/May-Treanor, along with a Norwegian and a Japanese team, while Crespo and Ribalta will be in the same group with Americans Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs, who placed fifth on the Olympic qualifying list.
The Cubans appeared confident of their advance into the top 16 and even better results. "We'll make the top 16. Maybe we will get a medal," said Archer.
(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2008)