The Rio Olympic Games "got off to a shambolic and nervous start" with organizers apologizing to "angry fans" kept waiting for hours at security checkpoints to enter venues while, outside, "shootings and bomb scares kept visitors on edge," according to Malone, Stauffer, Brooks, Ulmer, Eisenhammer & Viga of the London INDEPENDENT. Athletes "competed in front of empty stands early on the first day of full competition as spectators complained of missing their events while queueing for security clearance." Organizers "admitted to dropping the ball, with only a few hundred spectators making their way into venues such as the gymnastics arena and the beach volleyball on iconic Copacabana beach." Outside, "lines stretched for several blocks as fans stood in full sun and security staff struggled." Organizers "blamed a lack of coordination between security personnel, including the police, Games staff and private security firms." What should have been a celebration of the start of South America's first Olympics "turned into a damage-control operation," with Games spokesperson Mario Andrada vowing an immediate improvement. He said, "We apologize for everybody standing in line outside the venues. Within the next hours we will be in much better shape" (INDEPENDENT, 8/7). REUTERS' Karolos Grohmann wrote organizers "have applied tight security around the venues, amid concerns that the Games could be a target for militants." On Saturday, a bomb squad "carried out a controlled explosion of an unattended bag near the finish line of the men's cycling road race." There "have been several controlled blasts in recent days." There "were also some problems with transportation as buses spent hours trying to get people to the opening ceremony on Friday and some venues running out of water on Saturday." At the tennis center, where former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic "played in front of virtually empty stands in the first round, fans had to wait more than 20 minutes to buy water" (REUTERS, 8/6).
