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USA men's water polo team confined to hotel during Belgrade protests
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More from OlympicsThe USA men's national water polo team was ordered two days ago to stay in its hotel in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, where members are visiting to prepare for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The water polo team, whose coach is Dr. Terry Schroeder of Thousand Oaks, experienced a "lockdown" at its hotel as violent protests broke out in Belgrade after Serbia's southern province of Kosovo declared independence on Sunday.
Protestors shouted slogans, threw stones at the American embassy and vandalized some businesses after the U.S. said it would recognize the breakaway territory as an independent state.
"Unfortunately, we are in the middle of a political situation that unfolded today," Schroeder said Sunday in a communication relayed to reporters by USA Water Polo, the sport's national governing body. "We were asked to stay inside our hotel and stay safe because of the uncertainty in the streets. Everything at our hotel remained quiet and safe."
In a phone call Monday to his chiropractic office in Westlake Village, Schroeder told office manager Jeannine Ostrander that "all is well" and team members were venturing outside. "But he didn't say how far or where," Ostrander said. "We were just glad to hear from him."
Among the world's greatest water polo fans, Serbians celebrated National Water Polo day Saturday, winning an exhibition match against the Americans by a score of 14-6 in front of an estimated 4,000 spectators.
"The Serbians have been great hosts and the water polo training has been the highest level possible," Schroeder said.
The multi-week training trip was arranged months ago.
Ostrander and other staff members, including Schroeder's wife, Lori, who is also a chiropractor, are watching the calendar for Wednesday to arrive. That's when Team USA polo players and staff members plan to leave Serbia for Greece. After another stop in Italy, they will complete this training trip Feb. 29.
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