BEIJING, Aug 7: Former Test cricket great Steve Waugh is working with the Australian athletes at the Beijing Olympics offering advice and acting as a sounding board.

The former Australian Test captain is here in a mentoring capacity and his experience dealing with the pressures of elite sport is helping to prepare Australia’s large team of athletes ahead of the start of Olympics competition on Saturday.

Waugh, 43, was lending some practical advice and encouragement to Australia’s female beach volleyballers at the Chaoyang Park beach volleyball venue on Thursday and revelling in the atmosphere of an Olympic Games.

“It’s sensational, a real privilege to be here,” Waugh said.

“To get up close and personal with so many sports and training venues and to see what they have put into their sports, I feel really honoured to be here.”—AFP