A Visit to an Olympic Training Center

This summer, I got to visit the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. It was an fun trip with a chance to take a peek into how and where the top athletes train. The facility is located just south of San Diego. The main visitor building and courtyard are beautiful with evocative images of athletes from various Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

          

 

Inside the visitor's center is a gift shop, a lobby where you get to watch a video about the recent Olympics, and displays of medals and Olympic torches. In case you were wondering, the guide said that the medals do contain real gold, silver and bronze. The silver and bronze medals are 100% pure while the gold isn't. The medal below are from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Included in the display case were Olympic torches.

Also inside the visitor's center is a BMX bike museum. The Chula Vista center has BMX bike tracks for both the public and the Olympic athletes.

 For movie buffs, the museum has the bike from the movie E.T.

This is the Olympic BMX bike track and is a replica of the Beijing track. That's a big drop at the beginning.

Here's the kids BMX track. Notice the kids taking off down the first hill! This one is open to the public. More information is available at http://chulavistabmx.com/

It was very hot the day we visited the training center. The center offers guided or self-guided tours. I recommend a hat, sunscreen and water as there is a lot of walking and not much shade. Even on a cool day it would be really sunny. The guided tour was about 2 hours but the self-guided tour is an option. If you  plan a visit with young children, I'd recommend the self-guided tour. Our guide was excellent, but with so much to take in, and so little happening on the fields, children might find it hard to concentrate. If you choose the self-guided tour, mind the signs and don't wander into restricted areas.

Being so close to the Olympic Games in Rio, there weren't many athletes training at the center on the day we were there. However, we did get to meet some players from the U.S. Women's Rugby Team. Go Team U.S.A!!!!

Here are some sights from the tour. As you can see, the facility is a beautiful place for athletes to train. At the Archery Center, one archer was practicing. It was amazing to watch her hit the targets.

The training center also has a number of different fields for Rugby, Field Hockey and Soccer. Here is the one for Field Hockey.

Along with the excellent facilities are the gorgeous views. 

Here's one of the lake where the different rowing teams practice. 

You can see the lake again in this picture of the tennis court.

When athletes are here, they are completely take care of so they can concentrate on training. 

Here are some of the hotel-like dorms they enjoy. 

The facility also offers athletes nutritionists, sports psychologists, transportation and stipends. 

The facility is funded through donors, and sales of merchandise at the Olympic shop at http://www.teamusa.org/

The visit to the center was fun and a real chance to learn about what it takes to be an 

Olympic athlete. 

I hope you get a chance to visit the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center, 

and help cheer on Team U.S.A. during the Rio Olympics!

Check out my books because when the Olympic are over you will need something to read! 

For more tips on places to visit click here and here.