OLYMPICS-RIO/SECURITY Olympics to involve largest security operation in Brazil's history

Record ID: 145648

  • Title: OLYMPICS-RIO/SECURITY Olympics to involve largest security operation in Brazil's history
  • Date: 30th July 2015
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (JULY 30, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE, SAULO MOURA, SAYING: "There is no indication that we are the target of any extremist action. However, I repeat again, as happened in previous editions of the Games, Brazil will become the stage for an event which could attract extremist groups. We are per
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9J9CW2PF6YMP20LXABPL7N6ST
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The security operation being mounted for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics Games next year will be the largest operation in the country's history, Brazilian authorities said on Thursday (July 30).
    Speaking to reporters in Rio, Secretary of Security for Mega Events, Andrei Rodrigues, said that the key to the operation is its integration between diverse units, and some 85,000 professionals involved.
    "It is the largest integrated security operation in our country's history. We have never before carried out the action that we will take here in the Olympics," said Rodrigues.
    Of the 47,599 officials who will work directly in Rio, 18,500 will be deployed from the Military Police, 1,822 from the Civil Police, 4,620 from the Fire Service, 3,500 from the Federal Police, 2,000 from the Federal Road Police, 1,734 from the Penitentiary Department, 5,810 from the Municipal Guard, and 9,613 from the National Security Forces.
    Authorities said that the Olympics is equivalent to 65 World Cups in terms of security necessities. The Games will be carried out across 33 different installations in Rio, and five football stadiums throughout the country, whilst the Olympic Torch relay will visit 250 Brazilian cities.
    Army General Luiz Felipe Soares highlighted that the operation is already underway with the Olympic test events.
    "We will have 44 test events, 21 this year and 23 next year, and we are still learning and working out details through these test events, so that by Games-time we will be much better prepared to put on the Games that this country deserves, peaceful Games in a safe environment," said Soares on Thursday.
    The test events continue with Triathlon on Saturday, followed by the Equestrian and Rowing events next week, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Local Organising Committee Rio 2016 will celebrate the one year mark until the start of the Games.
    Brazilian Intelligence Agency Representative, Saulo Moura, said that an Intelligence Centre focused specifically on terrorism will be mounted in Rio closer to the Games. He stressed that this did not exist in previous mega events held in Rio since the 2007 Pan-American Games.
    "There is no indication that we are the target of any extremist action. However, I repeat again, as happened in previous editions of the Games, Brazil will become the stage for an event which could attract extremist groups. We are permanently monitoring the situation for this reason, with a specific section focused on terrorism within the Intelligence Agency," said Moura.
    The Intelligence Agency will also collaborate with competing nations in information sharing aimed at preventing acts of terrorism.
    Forty countries collaborated with Brazilian officials during the World Cup, and whilst authorities cannot work will each country competing in the Olympic Games, it aims to incorporate as many as possible into the operation, in particular those involved in Interpol.
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