Australia’s men’s sevens players were “read the riot act” by Olympics boss Kitty Chiller after a drunken night out in Copacabana saw them wandering drunk around the athletes’ village.
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Lochte was robbed at gunpoint during a party on Saturday night and while the story was initially denied by the IOC and US Olympic Committee, they’ve since confirmed the report by Fox Sports News was correct.
That included orders to always travel in groups of at least three people, to only travel in vehicles, to only take accredited taxis, to avoid wearing team uniforms while traveling in Rio and to stay off Rio’s beaches from 6 pm to 6 am.
After two Australian rowing coaches were robbed at knifepoint on Ipanema Beach shortly after the team’s informal opening ceremony, Australian Olympic Committee spokesman Mike Tancred took a shot at the host’s security.
Before these Olympics, Chiller had made a hard and fast rule about no Australians being allowed to drink alcohol in the athletes village, nor could they be drunk around athletes who were still competing.
The US Olympic Committee has said four swimmers, including multiple medallist Ryan Lochte, have been robbed by armed men in Rio.
“The team managers are doing a great job, but we reiterated the importance of someone within the team knowing where the athletes are at any point in time”, Chiller said Sunday, according to ESPN.
“There’s been a lot of increased petty criminal activity on the beaches”.
Chiller said athletes are encouraged to go out in the safer Barra district, around 25km west of Ipanema.
Swimmer Mitch Larkin, who won silver in the 200-meter backstroke, said it was “a little disappointing” that these security protocols were needed but said “health and safety are the most important things in life” and “these guidelines are fantastic”. I know we’ve planned a tour to the Christ Redeemer later this week, Sugarloaf mountain just to name a few.
Bentz and Conger were also part of that relay, their only event in Rio. Unfortunately it probably won’t be the famous Copacabana but we can go past it.
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Lochte’s mother, Ileana, had told USA Today that her son and the other sportsmen were “shaken up” after the incident.
