Rio Confidential: Inside the party houses of Rio

WHAT happens in the Olympic party houses, stays in the Olympic party houses. That’s the Vegas code that shields big name athletes who choose to let off some steam after their events.

Holland’s Heineken House in Rio.

WHAT happens in the Olympic party houses, stays in the Olympic party houses.

That’s the Vegas code that shields big name athletes who choose to let off some steam after their events.

And so it was with shrugs and a smile that our inquiries about how Olympians have been spending their time at the most popular country houses in Rio were met by staffers.

Holland’s Heineken House is just one of a number of ‘hospitality houses’ set-up by more than 30 different nations in Rio.

Holland’s Heineken House.

A converted club in the wealthy Leblon neighbourhood of Rio, Heineken House regularly sells out of its available 4000 daily tickets, but VIPs and athletes can always talk their way in.

While each house has a different theme, Holland’s house is modelled on an Ibiza beach party.

The “keep it in the house” mentality is why athletes love going there — occasionally just a bit too much — with two controversial post-competition nights featuring lengthy stops at the venue’s multiple bars.

The swimming pool at Heineken House.

Disgraced US 12 times gold medallist Ryan Lochte and his three teammates, who have been charged with falsely claiming they were robbed at gunpoint Sunday morning, had propped up a bar in the ritzy club the night before. And the bulk of the Aussie swim team started there Tuesday night, with Josh Palmer and Emma McKeon staying out far too late and seeing themselves booted out of the closing ceremony for breaking curfew.

During the day, Holland House is a place to lounge by a swimming pool and watch the games action on huge plasma TV screens.

Huge screen at Heineken House showing Olympics action.

But by night it switches to a hugely popular nightclub with DJs playing music for a throng of athletes — who are allowed in for free — on the packed dance floors until 2am.

Nearby France House is similarly popular, and it’s late night Club France was also visited by each of the swimmers before their controversial mornings after.

Meanwhile, swim teammates Belinda Hocking said the bulk of the swim team was going out “most nights”, and they tended to favour the hospitality houses.

Club France was visited by Australian swimmers.

“Holland (Heinekin) House is the best by far,” she said.

Taylor McKeown said she had gone out every night since competition finished.

“You have to go out because the village is so boring,” she said.

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THEY came to Brazil seeking glory but for some of them it’s turned into a race for redemption.

So it was doubly disappointing for some of Australia’s underwhelming swim team who headed to Rio’s number one tourist attraction yesterday — only to find it was fogged in and the face of the famous art deco statue was hard to see.

Sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell, who said the swimming events now seemed like a long time ago, were joined by fellow relay silver medallist Taylor McKeown atop Corcovado mountain.

Australian swimmers Cate Campbell, Daniel Smith, Grant Irvine, Bronte Campbell and Taylor McKeown take time out to visit the Christ Redeemer high above Rio de Janeiro. Pic: Adam Head

With the fallout from teammate Josh Palmer’s embarrassing night out lingering yesterday, they were keen to talk up the city’s daytime pleasures and refused to be drawn on the controversy involving Palmer and Emma McKeon’s breaking of curfew.

Individual medley finalist Trent Mahoney admitted the cloudy day was “not ideal weather’’.

Australian swimmers Taylor McKeown and Travis Mahoney take time out to visit the Christ Redeemer. Pic: Adam Head

“We got up here just as the cloud came in, but I think we got a few little sneak photos,” he said.

“Coming to Christ the Redeemer is certainly a bucket list kind of thing. I think if you are in Rio you definitely have to come and see it.

“For me personally, I am seeing as much sport as I can I am a huge sports nerd and I will watch anything I can.

“I may never attend another Olympics, so to go and watch all the other sports is pretty special, to see the world’s best at their peak compete for gold.”

Originally published as Rio Confidential: Inside the party houses of Rio