CBC's Andrew Chang in Rio: a look at the gymnastics venue

Today's the day I get to see the gymnastics venue. The world's best will compete here.

Two days before the Opening Ceremony, gymnasts are going through what's called 'podium training.'

If you're anything like me, your first thought might be: what more is there to know than if you win gold, step up onto the middle part?

• CBC's Andrew Chang shares his Rio experiences

But podium training is actually a kind of dress rehearsal for the actual gymnastics competition.

All of the gymnastics apparatus are on raised platforms, known as podiums. Podium training gives the gymnasts a chance to get a feel for what the actual vault springboards and uneven bars look and feel like, compared to the warm-up apparatus.

Testing is crucial

It's a big deal, because every apparatus has something different about it that can spell success or disaster for a gymnast. For example, most apparatuses have some springiness built into it.

This is so that gymnasts can get more air and perform more difficult skills. Getting to know just how much bounce you're going to get out of a piece of equipment is pretty important.

Also, when you're flipping, twisting, spiraling, tumbling and rolling in many skills, in many events, over many days, spatial awareness is everything.

And interestingly: though every gymnast will use slightly different frames of reference — the one thing almost every gymnast I've talked to has said is how incredibly green it all is.

It's nothing that'll throw them off — they're just used to different colours. And when millimetres matter (especially on the balance beam), you can't afford to be distracted by something so trivial.

Speaking of distractions, you may have noticed how ugly the underside of the podiums are. Chalk that up to last-minute delays. Normally there are supposed to be drapes covering all the messy wires and cables, but they haven't arrived yet.

Organizers are hoping they get here soon.