With the U.S. Olympic Trials having now concluded, all eyes turn to Rio, with the 2016 Olympic Games opening ceremonies set to kick off just one month from now. As the first day of competition draws near, however, concerns surrounding overall security in the host city of Rio de Janeiro remain.
Last month after an Australian Paralympic sailor and team officials were robbed at gunpoint while training in Rio, Australia’s Chef de Mission, Kitty Chiller, wrote to the Rio organizing committee and mayor demanding increased security.
“We’re demanding that the level of security forces, which number about 100,000, is reviewed and also we are also asking that they are deployed earlier prior to Games time, especially around training and competition venues,” she said at the time.
However, Chiller and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has reportedly not received a response to this request. “It is disappointing because every day that we don’t get a response means one less day that what we asked for can be in place,” Chiller told reporters this week. Although she is ‘confident’ the venues and immediate surrounding areas will be ‘safe’, she voices concern about other potential dangerous areas.
“The security personnel, there will be 85,000 of them on the road at Games time and I’m confident at Games time that the venues and areas around the venues will be safe,” Chiller said.
“But as you know we have athletes and team members there already. I’m going next week and I would like to know that I can walk the streets being safe from next week.”
It’s not just outside parties who are vocal about the state of security within the Olympic Games host nation. Rio de Janeiro’s own mayor, Eduardo Paes, is quoted as saying the state government has done a ‘terrible job’ in the realm of security.
Speaking to CNN concerning the state police’s ability to handle violent crime, Paes stated, “This is the most serious issue in Rio and the state is doing a terrible, horrible job. “It’s completely failing at its work of policing and taking care of people.”
The police are less than enthusiastic about their duties as of late, citing lack of bonus pay and the outstanding need for basic provisions to tackle rising crime levels. Despite the local situation, Paes remains positive that security will be sufficient during the Games, as the police will be joined by the army and navy.
States Paes, “Fortunately the State will not be responsible for security during that period.”
… should I cancel my ticket…
SHAME ON THE IOC. We’ll be sending our most talented, smart, and motivated young people from all over the world into this Olympic mess. Even without Zika, this was a bad choice, and the world knows it.
Choosing Rio was the worst choice ever. I’ve lived there, what a garbage dump of a city! It’s filthy and dangerous. Millions of desperately poor people.
I’m not that optimistic especially today! It has been reported today that one of the terrorists that we let go from Guantanomo is MIA and was last seen leaving to Brazil. His notoriety at Guatmo was forgery of IDs. If any of this is true there are some serious questions of security that need to be addressed especially if even the Mayor of Rio is saying Security is not good! Heaven help us if we get this wrong!!!
not zika problem in rio de janeiro, who is feeding this Intenacional average, it is rare to know anyone with zika and rio de janeiro this winter beating cold records. zika farse
during cup of brasi world, la Western international press made devil, russia sochi in 2015 was the same, but in the end were great games and safe, it is worth remembering World Cup in 2014 were 1.4 million foreigners were safe and well the best of all time, but Olympics is 3x less public, more police during an event at the end of the account will be quite safe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Ik_lCq3Po
Not true, only 6% of the population live in slums and… Read more »
The swimmers finish after the first week. I hope all is being done to keep them safe as they stick around with a week of free time before the closing ceremonies.
during cup of brasi world, la Western international press made devil, russia sochi in 2015 was the same, but in the end were great games and safe, it is worth remembering World Cup in 2014 were 1.4 million foreigners were safe and well the best of all time, but Olympics is 3x less public, more police during an event at the end of the account will be quite safe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Ik_lCq3Po