A total alcohol ban was put in place inside the athletes village and though they weren’t banned from drinking outside it, Australia’s Olympians were given a code of conduct to follow called “responsible behaviour directive”.
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Australia’s team chef de mission Kitty Chiller said athletes had been told not to go to Copacabana and Ipanema beaches between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time.
“Obviously safety and security has always been the primary concern for all our athletes and all our team members“, Chiller said.
It’s expected that despite the controversy a dressing down from Chiller will be enough and no further action will be taken against the team members. There has been an increase in petty criminal – but still criminal – activity on the beaches.
Australians have been reportedly told not to walk around Rio at night and to make sure they use official cars or transport.
“If they’re travelling at night, after dark between 6pm and 6am, then it’s only by vehicle and not by foot”.
“Yes, I read them the riot act”, Chiller said.
No sand at night!
On July 29, Australian athletes said they had been robbed after they evacuated their building in the Olympic village because of a fire in the building’s basement.
Chiller would prefer athletes stayed around the Barra area, near the athletes’ village and Olympic park, instead of venturing into the party areas of Rio.
The decision was made in the wake of American six-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte having been held up at gunpoint on Sunday, while two Australian rowing coaches also were robbed at knifepoint shortly after the Games’ opening ceremony.
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She and AOC security chief Greg Nance has been meeting with team leaders as sports finish their competition to reinforce the security protocols.
