(ATR) Rio mayor Eduardo Paes has accepted the U.S. Olympic Committee’s apology over the swimmers who lied about being robbed at gunpoint during the Games.
"We have to accept the apologies from the USOC," Paes told reporters Friday.
"My feeling is I feel pity and sorry that some behavior is their problem, and is for the USOC to decide what to do. They do not represent the American athletes that are here, and we are very proud of hosting the U.S. team with the amount of medals [they won] and what they have performed."
The USOC apologized last night for the behavior of the four swimmers, "to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence".
"The behavior of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the vast majority of its members," the USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said. "We will further review the matter, and any potential consequences for the athletes, when we return to the United States."
Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen had initially alleged that the group was robbed at gunpoint at a petrol station in Rio after their taxi stopped en route back to the Olympic Village after a night of partying. But CCTV footage showed the swimmers had fabricated the story, after an incident of vandalism and an argument between the athletes and two armed gas station security staff. This was later confirmed by the USOC.
Lochte, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz are now back in the USA. Feigen will pay $10,800 to avoid criminal prosecution to allow him to leave Rio today. The USOC said Feigen had provided a "revised statement" to a judge to secure the release of his passport. Conger and Bentz left Brazil to jeers at Rio airport after testifying about the incident that has embarrassed the USOC.
Mayor Paes was in no mood to criticize the USOC over the saga that has damaged Brazil’s reputation and angered the police and government.
"Michael Phelps became a Brazilian idol and we have this great experience. It is an honor to have them here but unfortunately there is someone that can be the black sheep," he told reporters.
"It’s an honor to have the US in the Olympic Games in Rio and there are a lot of American tourists in Rio. They are welcome and to enjoy the city. No one will think badly about the U.S. because of one person."
Lochte Issues Apology
Lochte issued an apology on his social media accounts today, saying he waited to make a statement "until it was confirmed that the legal situation was addressed and it was clear that my teammates would be arriving home safely."
The statement began "I want to apologize for my behavior last weekend - for not being more careful and candid in how I described the events of that early morning and for my role in taking the focus away from the many athletes fulfilling their dreams of participating in the Olympics."
He later added "I accept responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned some valuable lessons."
"We accept and appreciate his apology," said Mario Andrada, the director of communications for Rio 2016. Andrada also told reporters in the morning briefing that the story surrounding the U.S. swimmers was the subject of only 2.6 percent of Twitter postings in Brazil.
Here is the link to Lochte's full statement.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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