THURSDAYis the day that Triona Connors, Horse Sport Ireland’s team leader in Rio, has tipped me off that the Irish riders will be schooling in the main arena at 11.45am. Super Carlos is booked for 10am, which means he’s waiting from 9.30am, and he’s right, there’s been a total transformation since our last visit there in May, when the skeleton of the grandstands was just in place.

Now there are grandstands with blue and green seats set out in a similar pattern to the famous Copacabana beachwalk mosaic, a giant airship is tethered over the cross-country course in the distance and the area is surrounded by pristine white marquees and tents. Just as in London, all bags are searched and both they and all visitors go through security X-ray screening. Visitors also cross over a disinfectant mat before entering the compact grounds.