Reuters Pictures
A coach watches as Chinese Taekwondo athletes participate in a simulated Olympic competition exercise in an almost identical replica of the Olympic venue, at their training facility in Huairou Stadium on the outskirts of Beijing July 24, 2008. From bussing in school-children to simulate screaming fans, to pushing their athletes in front of journalists after practice matches, the Chinese taekwondo team's Olympic training has taken virtual reality to a new level. In the re-fitted gymnasium, that is an almost identical copy of the venue for the Beijing Olympic taekwondo competition, the team participated in the mock bouts in order to expose their athletes to the mental pressure of fans, media and sometimes dubious decision-making by match referees.
