Games village a haven for the athletes

In stark contrast to recent multi-sport events, the village for the 2018 Commonwealth Games is ready to give athletes every chance to perform at their best.

Commonwealth Games Athletes Village on the Gold Coast.

Thousands of athletes from 71 nations will stay in the 2018 Commonwealth Games athletes' village. (AAP)

It's just days until thousands of athletes from 71 nations arrive at their home away from home on the Gold Coast - the athletes' village.

And from the moment the stars of the 2018 Commonwealth Games step off their bus and clear the airport-style security at the entrance, they'll find themselves in a place catered solely to their needs.

While the dorm-style accommodation is more functional than luxury, the rooms are a clean and comfortable environment.

There's also no sign of the dodgy wiring, blocked plumbing and other issues which briefly led to the Australian team boycotting the village at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"It's a different world here. Everything's just clean, it's all finished, it's immaculate," said discus thrower Matt Denny, who experienced some of those issues in Rio first-hand.

"Nothing massive. The showers clogged up a few times. The toilet seat broke off ... it's going to make a world of difference just having peace of mind coming in."

The village itself is broken up into a residential zone, an international zone and an operational zone.

The six multi-coloured residential areas will house the 6600 athletes and team officials and include four residential pools, laundry services, refreshments and TV and computer spaces.

Athletes and officials will also be able to take home the quilts on their bed boasting a distinctive indigenous motif, while hand-painted canvasses from Gold Coast students are also take-home souvenirs.

Outside the residential areas, the village boasts a fully-equipped medical centre, an Australian Institute of Sport-designed gym and self-serve buffet style dining hall.

Para-athletes can also visit the on-site technical service to repair and alter their wheelchairs, orthotics and prosthetics.

There's a hangout area complete with pool tables, arcade games, beanbags and other relaxing activities.

The village also boasts a seven-hectare green space 'backyard' with walking paths and stages for live entertainment near the Village Heart, which is a centrepiece sculpture inspired by the Gold Coast's Natural Bridge rock formation and waterfall.

In the international zone, athletes can meet with designated friends and family as well as visit retail shops or just hang out at the bar.

Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake is also a fan of the village, taking a sneak peek on Sunday.

"I love the colours. It's wonderful," Blake said.

"I love everything about the village."

Olympic champion Sara Carrigan, who is one of the village's co-mayors, says the precinct has been designed wholly to enable athletes to prepare for competition as they want.

"Some athletes like to spend time by themselves and other athletes like to actually be out there and be a bit more social," Carrigan told AAP.

"Athletes do vary from that spectrum of solitude to being really involved, the athletes' village has all of that covered."

Competitors and officials are expected to begin arriving in the village from next week ahead of the Games' opening ceremony on April 4.


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Source: AAP

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