Security has been a persistent concern surrounding these Games.
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Australia is reporting that two of the nation’s rowing team coaches were robbed at knifepoint at Ipanema Beach Friday night, just before the Games opening ceremony. One of the teenagers pulled a knife and threatened the two coaches, neither of whom was named in the report.
The committee spokesman, Mike Trancred, told NBC News the coaches were walking from one hotel to another about three blocks away when they were robbed by youths with a large knife. “They both lost their mobile phones”.
“They didn’t resist, they complied and handed everything over”.
The Australian delegation is calling for tighter security after the incident occurred on Rio’s famous Ipanema beach.
“The host city has a responsibility to protect all the athletes and officials”, Tancred said. As a result of the incident, all officials and athletes traveling between the two hotels will now travel in a vehicle.
Team members are being asked to wear casual clothes, keep accreditation hidden and to avoid walking around after 6pm.
The situation is reminiscent of a robbery back in June when anAustralian Paralympic sailor and team officials were robbed at gunpoint while training in Rio.
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Spectators at the men’s road cycling race were left confused and startled when security services carried out a controlled explosion on a package left near the event’s finish line in Copacabana.
