Their country's athletes haven't won a medal at the Olympics in Rio (yet), but Nepalese are smiling nonetheless, thanks to media praise for their national anthem and one swimmer's age defying performance.

Arriving at Katsikas in mid April, I was immediately struck by the contrast in settings picturesque, snow capped mountains dominate the horizon, with rolling green foothills in the foreground while the camp is a dusty sea of large jagged rocks and row upon row of identical triangular tents.