The Athlete’s Village is a sprawling complex of 31 buildings that is supposed to house all 18,000 athletes and staff from around the world during the summer Olympics. “It’s for my country, for Germany and the Olympic Committee, because they gave me all the support to make it possible”, Mardini said. Instead, a reserve force of police from around the country will step in to operate X-ray machines and check visitors on their way into venues, Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes said.
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Australian Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller addresses the media in Rio following reports of thefts from the team.
“There is no CC-TV in the village. I have two brothers, I don’t know what they will look like now”.
Once in Rio de Janeiro, however, he was abandoned without money or papers by his coach and, along with teammate and fellow Refugee Team member Yoland Mabika, fled to the streets. “He once said, ‘I use boxing because it’s a platform to get to people.’ Muhammad Ali showed how champion athletes can champion justice”, Ban said.
Roughly one hundred athletes and other personnel had to be evacuated from the building as the Fire Brigade got to work controlling the flames.
“There was no point in laying blame or saying “could have or should have” at that point last night”, she said. But the recent fire has again raised another Olympic Village concern for the AOC-is it really “smoke-free”?
Chiller could not say whether the laptop contained sensitive data, and neither could she state how many shirts were missing.
The Australian team initially refused to move into its Village accommodations last weekend, citing shoddy conditions, including blocked toilets and risky wiring.
The cause of the fire was said to be cardboard that ignited in the basement.
The Australians subsequently discovered that the alarm system had been deactivated without them knowing while workmen were fixing the neighbouring building.
But she added: “We have reminded all our team members, especially in the village, that you keep your doors locked – your bedroom door and the apartment door”.
“We’re going to represent you guys in a really good way”, she said, speaking to other anonymous refugees.
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She said the “three or four shirts” stolen were long-sleeve models created to be worn to prevent mosquito bites.
