Rio Games: Raising the Drama Bar

There is always drama in advance of the Olympic Games as host cities scramble in the final months. However, with Rio de Janeiro’s epic recession, pollution, crime, and health concerns, the Rio Games is raising the bar. Here are recent updates:

♦ Australian Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch, who was robbed in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning, said, “Some things don’t happen too often in a lifetime, like being held up by gunpoint at the end of your morning cycle along the waterfront! There were three people within 10 metres of us at the incident, who watched, and then just continued on their morning strolls.” Full report.

♦ Following Tesch’s incident, Australia’s Olympic team is urging Brazilian authorities to implement Olympic-scale security now in Rio de Janeiro “before an athlete gets hurt.” While an estimated 85,000 police and soldiers will be patrolling the streets during the Olympics and Paralympics, “Maybe the organizing committee should mobilize their games-time defense force early,” said Kitty Chiller, Australia’s Olympic team leader. “Do it now.” Full report.

♦ But to increase security in advance of the Games requires additional funding, and right now Rio is struggling with their current commitments. Last week, acting Governor Francisco Dornelles of Rio de Janeiro state declared a state of financial disaster as the state grapples with the country’s economic recession. The funding is needed to pay for securing during the Games while also attempting to clean the waters for the sailing events. Full report.