The Australian Olympic Committee "has become so concerned about security in Rio it has seen fit to hire a private firm to be on standby to protect the national team in the games' host city," according to Samantha Lane of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Miffed that Rio's mayor and Games organizing committee boss "have ignored their escalating security worries, Australian Olympic chiefs have enlisted the additional and independent safeguards for the national travelling party that will number almost 800 athletes and support staff." The extra protection resources would be mobilized at the discretion and direction of AOC Security Dir Greg Nance, "a former Australian Army officer who was also charged with minding athletes and officials in London." Meanwhile, Australian Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller "has effectively given up on a response to her official request that local authorities bolster security on the ground in Rio earlier than planned." In the view of the AOC, security in Rio next month for the Australian team "poses a vastly greater risk than the Zika virus." Chiller: "To be honest, what would keep me awake more at night is the potential risk with security. The 780 people I take over I want to bring them all back safely and well" (SMH, 7/7).
EXTRA TROOPS: In Rio, Nelson Belen wrote on Wednesday, Brazil Defense Minister Raul Jungmann and Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes announced that "an additional three thousand military personnel would be deployed to Rio de Janeiro to aid in security efforts during the 2016 Olympics." The extra measure "raises the total number of armed forces personnel in Rio during the Games from 18,000 to 21,000." According to the ministers, the military force "will be deployed in railway stations near Maracanã and the Deodoro Sports Complex, at expressways such as Linha Vermelha, Avenida Brasil and the Transolímpica, and around the airports." In addition, a large contingent of 5,700 armed soldiers "will secure the Copacabana zone area, including the Marina da Glória and Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas." They will join the 6,000 military personnel "already in Rio." Jungmann said, "If necessary, we will mobilize even more" (RIO TIMES, 7/7).
