(ATR) The Rio Aquatics Center was evacuated after a suspicious package was found in the venue.
Rio 2016 confirmed the incident to Around the Rings, but said the incident was quickly dealt with. They found that the suspect package was a backpack left behind by an athlete.
"It was a forgotten personal bag, so the incident is already over," a Rio 2016 spokesperson said. "The venue was evacuated as a precaution. They checked the suspect item and found it was forgotten belongings."
Early reports of the incident said the evacuation occurred during an Australian team training session, which was not inside the aquatics center. A spokesperson for the Australian Olympic Committee told ATR they were monitoring the situation, but all of the athletes were accounted for and training had continued.
This is the first security incident of the Rio 2016 Games and comes four days after a high-profile sweep of the IOC hotel in Barra.
Security officials have had a very visible presence at the Olympic Park. The Games security plan was changed in the aftermath of the Nice terrorist attacks last month. The effect was noticeable this morning at the main press center, as media members waited in nearly hour-long lines to enter the building.
As part of the revamped security plans, Brazil's federal government beefed up security and said it would become more visible to ensure public trust.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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”
