BRASILIA - Brazil's interim President Michel Temer has written an open letter to international media reassuring readers that his country is ready to host the Olympic Games in a month's time. Mr Temer says Brazil has put together "a solid security programme" to ensure visitors and athletes are safe.
He also dismissed "rumours" of a possible Zika outbreak. The letter comes amid reports of athletes being robbed and pollution at the Olympic sailing venue.
Mr Temer says Brazil will deploy 85,000 members of the security forces "to ensure that the sporting events take place in an atmosphere of absolute peace and tranquillity". Police officers handle a man during a security drill at the Rio Olympic Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, April 12, 2016Image copyrightAP
That is double the number of those deployed in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Two weeks ago, the Australian Olympic Committee called on Brazil to deploy extra security after Paralympic athlete Liesl Tesch had her bike stolen at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro. Tesch is not the only athlete to have become the victim of crime.
In May, three members of the Spanish Olympics sailing team were robbed at gunpoint while walking through Rio. The perception by some visitors of Rio as a dangerous city has not been helped by police protesting about late payments and the high number of officers killed in the line of duty. On Monday 28 of June and again on 4 July, passengers arriving at Rio's international airport were greeted by off-duty officers holding a sign reading "Welcome to hell. Police and fire fighters don't get paid, whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe".(FA)
