IOC Remains Confident in Rio Security Despite Gruesome Discovery

(ATR) The IOC assures that the Rio 2016 Olympics will be safe despite the gruesome discovery of body parts on Copacabana Beach on Wednesday.

"In terms of security, there can be no compromise," the IOC said in a statement. "The Government has reported that 85,000 personnel will be deployed across Rio for the Games. We trust that the security of all participants remains the priority of all parties."

The severed foot and an unidentified body part were found just a few meters away from the site of the beach volleyball venue set to stage one of the premier events at the Olympics this August. Brazilian authorities say the victim was likely a young adult male or female.

The incident follows a demonstration by Brazilian first responders at the Rio de Janeiro airport on Monday where police and firefighters held up a sign reading: "Welcome to Hell. Police and firefighters don’t get paid. Whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe."

Security concerns are the latest snafu for organizers of the Games after dealing with the fallout from water pollution, the Zika virus and a political and economic crisis. Despite the multitude of issues, the IOC maintains the Olympics will go off without a hitch.

In order to make sure the country has enough money to stage the Games, acting State Governor Francisco Dornelles declared a "public state of calamity in financial management" on June 20.

Dornelles told Globo that "we cannot fail," in hosting the Olympic Games, which necessitated the need to seek alternative avenues to receive federal funding to cover the costs for the Games.

"The president said he recognizes that the Olympics is a national event, which is important for Brazil, and the whole world will be watching," Dornelles said. "I think Rio is experiencing a specific situation. We will invest in metro and security. We need to have more people on the street, extensive policing. We have to be enhanced during the Games."

The Rio 2016 Olympics begin Aug. 5 and come to a close on Aug. 21.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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