Olympic Newsdesk - Half a Billion to be Spent on Rio Security; USOC Advisory Panel

Brazil Spending More than a Half Billion on Olympic Security

Brazil’s justice minister announced the country would spend $514 million on security efforts for the Olympics.

Tarso Genro announced on Thursday the money would go toward the National Program of Security with Citizenship (Pronasci) which promotes better living standards throughout Brazil’s major cities.

"We want to invest 900 million reais in the Pronasci, plus what was already in next year's budget," Genro was quoted saying at a Pronasci meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

"The resources are specifically for Rio, for the 2016 Games' security, so that things are much better then than they are today."

The money will help fund programs already in place such as “Peacemaking Police Units” that help reduce violence in the favelas. Fourteen cities around Brazil will receive some of the funding.

Panel to Study USOC Operation

The USOC announced on Thursday the formation of an “independent Advisory Committee” that will analyze how the USOC operates, and report to the USOC Board in March with its findings.

Chicago 2016 chief executive Patrick Ryan and Skip Gilbert, the chairman of the National Governing Bodies Council are among the 13 individuals joining former National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue to review the USOC’s structure and operating procedures.

“This committee is comprised of talented leaders with deep experience in Olympic sports and Olympic activities generally, as well as talented individuals who have led sports and partnership organizations,” Tagliabue said in a statement. “Their commitment and enthusiasm in embracing this opportunity to assess the structure of the USOC is a testament to the significance of the Olympic Movement in our country.”

Specifically, the panel will look at the structure of the USOC Board and its committees. The panel will also investigate ways to increase the presence of Olympic sports on the Internet and television, especially during non-Olympic years.

The advisory panel will be one of the items on agenda for the Dec. 14 USOC Board meeting in San Francisco

“We are very pleased that someone of Paul's stature will lead this distinguished independent group in their assessment and evaluation of the USOC,” USOC Chairman Larry Probst said. “With six years having passed since the USOC’s governance restructure of 2003, it is appropriate for the organization to examine our processes to determine how we can better operate and meet the needs of our stakeholders.”

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Written by Ed Hula III.