The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has called on organisers of the RIO Games to mobilise their security force now following a number of violent robberies on athletes in the Games’ city.
"The RIO organisers need to introduce the extra security precautions as soon as possible before an athlete gets hurt. We have written to them today asking them to address this issue." said Kitty Chiller, Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team.
She was speaking after two members of Australia’s Paralympic sailing team were confronted by men armed with a gun who stole their bikes on Sunday morning.
"This is not an isolated incident, athletes have been mugged while training or competing in RIO Test events and we want our athletes protected. I am sure the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) shares our view following this latest incident".
The RIO Organising Committee has promised to mobilise a security force of 100 thousand police, military and other personnel in time for the Olympic Games which begin on August 5.
The security force will remain in place for the Paralympics which begin on September 7.
The 100,000 personnel will be made up of 47,000 Brazilian security professionals; 38,000 members of the armed forces; 10,000 officers from the National Police Force and 5,000 Federal police officers from other parts of Brazil.
"We have briefed our athletes leading into the Games. Basically we are saying that if you are confronted by criminals, comply, handover your belongings and don’t argue. That is exactly what the two Paralympians did on Sunday".
The Australian Olympic Team has appointed Greg Nance as the Security Director for the Team. He will work closely with the Organising Committee and the other agencies throughout the Games.
The Brazilian authorities introduced a massive security force for the Football World Cup which provided protection for the athletes and the thousands of visitors to the country.
"The Paralympic sailors were confronted by the men in broad daylight, it was 7.30 in the morning, and right near their accommodation. There were people around but no-one came to their assistance. This is a major concern and the only answer is for the authorities to put extra police and security on the ground now".
There have been several shooting incidents in the past couple of weeks. This is disturbing.
We have a duty of care to the athletes and officials. We are taking over 400 young athletes to the Games, we need to ensure they are protected at all costs.
Maybe the Organising Committee should mobilise their Gamestime defence force early. Do it now.
The local mayor was very upset with me when we announced that the favelas were off limits to members of our Team a couple of months ago.
This was not a slur on his city, which is a beautiful and vibrant city.
It is a simple security precaution. There are over 200 favelas in Rio and we cannot possibly keep track of our athletes if we set them loose in those areas.
There is a high crime rate in some of the favelas, some remain very dangerous and we are not prepared to take that risk.
They will remain a no go zone.
It is obvious there is also a very high security risk along the beachfront in RIO as well".
For more information, please contact:
Mike Tancred
Director Media & Communications
Australian Olympic Committee
Level 4, 140 George Street, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
T +61 2 8436 2140 / M +61 412 330 274
E mike.tancred@olympics.com.au
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