The Australian Paralympic Committee "is not yet considering curfews for athletes at next month’s Rio Games" but admits it is constantly reviewing security arrangements in light of the "recent troubles" at the Olympics, according to Margie McDonald of THE AUSTRALIAN. Commentary from Brazil over the past 48 hours, following the gunpoint robbery of American swimmer Ryan Lochte and some of his teammates, highlighted the "heightened" risk for Paralympians, especially those athletes "with vision or mobility problems making them more vulnerable." Australian Paralympic Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said, "We are constantly reviewing our protocols to see if we’re doing enough, or whether we need to do some things differently." The Australian Olympic Committee on Monday "banned athletes from going to Rio’s famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches after dark." After the American swimmers’ ordeal, AOC Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller "told athletes they must travel in a vehicle between 6pm and 6am, even if the journey is only a couple of hundred metres." McLoughlin said that "the same rule would be in place for Paralympians, along with not travelling in groups socially of less than four people" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/16).
