Beijing: Even the prospect of staying in million-dollar apartments isn't enough to tempt the likes of Roger Federer and the superstars of the NBA to bed down at the Olympic Village.
The purpose-built, tightly-guarded complex will be home to 16,000 athletes for the duration of the Games with some reports suggesting each apartment will be worth around the million dollar mark when they are sold off after the August 8-24 event.
But 12-time Grand Slam champion Federer prefers to make his own arrangements and his decision has been backed by the Swiss delegation.
"It was quite difficult in Athens," said Federer of his experience of the 2004 Games. Taking the bus and not being in control of my own schedule, and many people recognising me in the village. It was not as enjoyable as Sydney, which I loved."
Ironically, at the Swiss apartments here, the only poster displayed of a squad member is one of Federer.
"He is sure to draw a lot of attention," said Swiss delegation chief Werner Augsburger.
"It's not because Federer doesn't like living in the Olympic village. It's because he has his own habits and prefers to live by himself."
Federer's great rival Rafael Nadal has no such fears about his privacy and is happy to stay with the rest of the Spanish team.
"It's very different from the regular tournaments on the tour. You are in the Olympic Village, so it's always very nice to be with the rest of the sportsmen of the world," said Nadal who is making his Olympic debut," said Nadal.
The NBA and the Olympic spirit
Britain's Andy Murray, who won a maiden tennis Masters title in Cincinatti last weekend, admitted he can't understand Federer's decision.
"Having made the decision to play in the Olympics, I wouldn’t want to be staying anywhere other than in the athletes’ village. It will be a great experience to be around the best athletes in the world and to speak to some of them."
Federer's reluctance to commit to the village is shared by the big names of the NBA.
Four years ago, the United States team opted for the cruise ship luxury of the QEII rather than the humble village; in Beijing, they prefer five-star hotel luxury.
"In 2004, we were kind of disassociated with everyone, because we were staying on a ship and not with everyone in the Olympic village," said the Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade.
"This year, we're going to be a little more open to it. We're going to try to have a little more fun and enjoy it."
The US basketball team has never been too attracted to village life. In Barcelona in 1992, John Stockton revealed the thinking.
"We don't intend to make a whole lot of friends here," he said. "The Olympic spirit is beating people, not living with them."
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