(ATR) A host of problems including lengthy security lines, difficulties and delays with transportation and numerous thefts have tainted the opening to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Despite an inspiring opening ceremony attended by 53,000 spectators Friday night at the Maracana, the majority of questions at the IOC/Rio 2016 daily news conference dealt with the problems facing Games spectators and journalists.
Rio 2016 director of communications Mario Andrada and IOC spokesperson Mark Adams addressed some of these issues Saturday at the Main Press Center.
"Indeed we have problems with some of the mag and bag structures especially in the Olympic Park," Andrada said about lines to go through metal detectors. "We apologize to everyone who is standing outside in line. We obviously need to upgrade this part and we’ve informed the relevant authorities and we moved people from Rio 2016 to speed up the check in of the public and we expect everything in an hour will be in much better shape."
Andrada advised that an entirely new security company was hired by Rio 2016 last week. There have been reports that there are credentials not being scanned and x-ray machines are not working.
Transportation problems and delays were also addressed, amid reports that a group of shooters who were lost on a bus, one driver admitting being improperly trained as well as inefficiencies surrounding last night’s opening ceremony.
"There are problems and lines with buses, but there are problems with lines and buses at all Games," Adams said. "They will get sorted out."
"We don’t have a major problem or structural problem with transportation," Andrada said. "We believe the transportation system passed the baptism of fire yesterday taking people in and out of the ceremony.
Despite further claims of drivers admitting being unfamiliar with routes and one in particular who said he didn’t have a map, Andrada refuted that drivers have been improperly trained.
"We do know that 99% of drivers have [previously] been driving to Maracana," Andrada said. "The transportation system was judged yesterday at the IOC to be impeccable."
"We were praised this morning by the IOC officials saying that we [successfully] brought athletes back to the village," Andrada said. "We understand that the system is able to take the load and we proved that during the opening ceremony."
In a more serious matter, a BBC news crew reported witnessing a fatal shooting just outside the Maracana stadium secure area in front of a church.
"We haven’t got any report, any information on the shooting outside the stadium or close to the stadium last night," Andrada said. "There were incidents of pick-pocketing which were not very close because it was a sealed zone, but this is common for events like this."
Adams noted that 85,000 Brazilian troops are securing the Games, nearly twice as many in London 2012.
"We’re very confident in the security measures in place," Adams said.
A string of thefts including one occurring within the media village and stolen video and camera equipment from journalists have also been reported.
Andrada said that all reports are being looked into, but didn’t offer any specific information conveyed from the Brazilian authorities.
Written by Brian Pinelliin Rio de Janeiro
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