Marines to step up Rio security during Olympic Games

The Brazilian Navy unveiled the marine detachments making up the taskforce in the security scheme for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, set to begin in August. The announcement was made on Thursday (Jun. 30), at the Amphibious Division Squad's base (Comando da Divisão Anfíbia in the original), on Ilha do Governador, northern Rio de Janeiro.

From July 24 to the end of the Paralympic Games, the marines and the Integrated Center for Tactical Coordination (CCTI)—some 2,700 men altogether—will be under the authority of the Copacabana Sector Defense Squad, which is tasked with efforts against terrorism; potential nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological attacks; and drug trafficking. The military are also expected to tighten up security in tunnels and freeways near Copacabana.

The regions under the responsibility of the Navy are those where the venues are located for beach volleyball, triathlon, cycling road, and marathon swimming, in Copacabana; sailing, in Marina da Glória; rowing and canoe, in Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas; in addition to marathon, in Aterro do Flamengo.

“What's interesting is that our city has hosted a number of major events on a regular basis. We've had the World Youth Day, and then the World Cup, and now the Games. Those have been opportunities for our troops to gear up for a long time now. That's our biggest legacy—to acquire both professional and personal knowledge and experience,” said Admiral Alexandre José Barreto.

Barreto declared that the Navy is prepared to deal with serious incidents. “Be it an attack or a terrorist threat, or any other occurrence which demands our involvement, the population may rest well assured that our men have been thoroughly prepared to ensure everyone's welfare.”

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games are to be held from August 5 to 21, and should bring more than 10 thousand athletes from 106 different countries, with a total 306 medal matches in 17 days. The Paralympic Games, in turn, are slated for September 7–18, with over 4 thousand athletes from 176 nations expected to participate. Through 11 days, 528 matches will be held.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira