Brazil's government said that it will step up "security cordons, add further roadblocks and frisk more visitors in Rio de Janeiro for next month's Olympic Games to increase security after the truck massacre in France," according to Paulo Prada of REUTERS. Already "on guard" because of recent attacks in Paris, Brussels and Orlando, Brazilian officials met to "re-assess preparations for the Games," which start Aug. 5 and are expected to attract as many as 500,000 foreign visitors. Officials said on Friday that they would also "increase the number of security perimeters, spot-checks of visitors and roadblocks across Rio." Brazil Institutional Security Minister Sergio Etchegoyen said that because of longer lines and more inspections for those attending events, the enhanced measures "may mean sacrificing comfort for the sake of security." Overall, though, Brazil on Friday "sought to reaffirm the security plan it has been developing in recent years, along with foreign partners." Brazil Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani said, "Brazil is confident about its preparations. Personnel are ready, all the protocols have been followed and we are employing the most modern security and defense techniques." In addition to a deployment of about 85,000 police, soldiers and other security personnel, over the twice the size of the force used at the London Olympics in 2012, Brazil has been "cooperating with foreign intelligence services and militaries to share information, tactics and strategy" (REUTERS, 7/15). In Rio, Lise Alves reported Etchegoyen said that the government "will ask the population for help, reporting any suspicious actions to authorities." He said that he hopes the people of Rio understand that the increased security is "for their own benefit." As for recent media reports that the French national team "would be a target during the Games," Etchegoyen said that Brazilian officials "were not able to confirm the rumors." According to Etchegoyen, all delegations will be treated the same, with "the highest level of security attention" (RIO TIMES ONLINE, 7/16).
