A bullet "was found in the Olympic Equestrian Center" yesterday morning, the second time that has happened in four days, according to Rebecca Davis O'Brien of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Officials said the bullet came from a military operation "in a nearby neighborhood." No injuries were reported, and the dressage competition "continued as planned." Brazilian Gen. Luiz Ramos last night "fielded questions from reporters who reported hearing gunfire at night near the media residences in Deodoro and during the dressage competition" (WSJ.com, 8/10). Meanwhile, in Boston, Shira Springer reports "conflicting versions of an attack on a media bus dominated" the IOC’s morning press briefing yesterday. Rio Security Dir Luiz Fernando Correa "repeatedly stated that rocks, not gunfire, hit the bus," and he "noted that forensic findings confirmed that." But passengers on the bus said that they "heard gunshots and that the holes in the windows looked like they came from bullets" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/11).
IT IS WHAT IT IS: In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes it is "so very hard to break an Olympics," the Rio Games are "groaning a little." There are "empty seats, green pools, metal detector attendants spotted sleeping on the job, buses that don’t always work." There also have been bullets at the equestrian venue and an "attempted robbery of the opening ceremony security chief." However, the Games are "lumbering forth, because it’s so big it would take something seismic to shake it." Arthur: "All you really need is basic security, getting the athletes to the venues, and TV cameras. ... That will be enough" (TORONTO STAR, 8/11). The NATIONAL POST's Steve Simmons writes, "For all the warning, for all the talk of safety, for all that’s been stolen through six days, I have never worried about my safety." These Games of "apparent trepidation will never remind anyone" of the '00 Sydney Games. However, this so far has not been the "worst of Games." Simmons: "Atlanta 1996 may have that title forever" (NATIONAL POST, 8/11).
TWIST OFF? In Charlotte, Scott Fowler notes there is something "of a black market in bottle caps" in Rio. At Olympic venues, for "vague 'safety reasons,' they will sell you bottled water or a bottled soft drink but they will insist on taking off the cap first." Fowler: "They don’t sell fountain drinks at the venues at all" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/11).
