Thorpe shielded from Olympic hype

Australian medal hope Ian Thorpe is staying away from his home city of Sydney to avoid being swept away by pre-Olympics excitement.

Thorpe, 17, and the rest of the hosts' 44-strong swimming team are staying in a Melbourne hotel until September 10.

Thorpe's manager Dave Flaskas told Reuters the world champion and record holder was starting to taper down from his heavy training schedule as he prepares for the Sydney Games which open on September 15.

"I think it's good particularly Thorpey being a Sydney boy is out of Sydney for a while," Flaskas said.

Kieren Perkins, aiming to win the 1,500 metres freestyle at his third successive Olympics, addressed squad members on the dangers of letting the thrill of the Olympic experience deflect them from medal-winning.

"He (Thorpe) has had a lot of good people talk to him about that. People like Kieren and (Atlanta gold medallist) Susie O'Neill and (four-time gold medallist) Dawn Fraser," Flaskas said.

"The common theme is you can never really prepare for an Olympic Games. (But) Thorpey's a pretty smart young fellow."

The swimming team may be presented to the crowd of 100,000 at Saturday's Australian Football League (AFL) grand final between Melbourne and Essendon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the main stadium for the 1956 Olympics.

"It's a major event on the Australian sporting calendar and it will give them all a boost (to attend)," Australian swimming media director Ian Hanson told Reuters.

"We all do it together which is a hallmark of Don Talbot's coaching. If it is raining and wet, they won't go. Their health is very important."