(ATR) The Australian Olympic Committee today urged Rio 2016 organizers to mobilize its security force in the wake of violent robberies on athletes.
Security concerns have grown after two members of Australia's Paralympic sailing team – Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross – were robbed at gunpoint while on a bike ride in a park near Flamengo Beach on Sunday. The armed man pointed the gun at Tesch and pushed her to the ground before they stole their bikes. She described the incident as "absolutely horrific".
"The Rio organizers 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.
"This is not an isolated incident, athletes have been mugged while training or competing in Rio test events and we want our athletes protected," she added.
"Maybe the organizing committee should mobilize their Games-time defense force early. Do it now."
In May, Spain's Olympic champion sailor Fernando Echavarri and two fellow Spaniards were robbed at gunpoint in Rio.
Games organizers have pledged to mobilize a security force of 100,000 police, military and other security officials for the Olympics and Paralympics.
"We have briefed our athletes leading into the Games. Basically we are saying that if you are confronted by criminals, comply, hand over your belongings and don’t argue. That is exactly what the two Paralympians did on Sunday," Chiller said.
The Australian NOC has appointed Greg Nance as security director for the team. He will work closely with Rio organizers and the other security agencies during the Games.
The Australian NOC said it was "disturbing" to hear about several shooting incidents in Rio in the past couple of weeks.
"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," Chiller said.
The Australian NOC has already banned athletes and officials from visiting favelas in Rio amid security fears.
"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," she said."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."
Security issues are the latest challenges facing Olympic organizers, who are struggling to shake off fears about the Zika virus and dealing with sluggish ticket sales and budget worries.
Reported by Mark Bisson
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
