Team Singapore enjoying village life at the Olympics

Even then, the Singaporean was star-struck when she saw two-time Wimbledon men's singles champion Carlos Alcaraz at the Olympic Village dining hall when she arrived on July 22.

- David Lee

Saiyidah, 36, said: "I saw (fellow Spanish tennis star Rafael) Nadal first but he was already swarmed with people. When I went up to Alcaraz, I was telling him - I'm so sorry, I have to be one of these people who annoy you - and he was so nice and said it's okay. I was grinning from ear to ear."

Welcome to the Paris 2024 Olympic Village in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, where sporting royalty mingle with the 14,250 athletes and officials housed in a 54ha site with 82 buildings. This will later be converted into homes for 6,000 residents in a community that incorporates apartments with workplaces, shops, public facilities and green spaces.

The bigger countries have gone to some lengths to help their athletes feel at home. China put up large banners with a panda peeking out, while the Canadians installed a wooden moose at the entrance of their block.