Additional security is unlikely to protect athletes entirely from crime in Rio de Janeiro, according to an Australian paralympic sailor who was robbed at gunpoint.
Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross were robbed in broad daylight on Sunday, saying they were threatened with guns, pushed to the ground and robbed of their bikes while training in Rio.
The city’s mayor Eduardo Paes has apologised for the incident, saying it was unacceptable and promised better security for the August Olympics.
The robbery has prompted the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to write to Games’ organisers, demanding they mobilise security forces ahead of schedule.
But Tesch is expecting more of the same during the Games.
“There will be similar incidents of various shapes and forms. We went to the tourist police afterwards and it was almost like a turnstile,” she said after arriving on Wednesday evening at Sydney Airport.
But despite her concerns, Tesch says nothing is going to prevent her returning to the city to compete for gold.
“We knew there was a risk going over there,” she said.
When the thieves appeared from behind a bus and pulled out a gun, Tesch said she knew what to do thanks to security briefings and training.
She calmly showed the robbers she was not carrying anything of value and they were off in a flash with the only thing they could take – the bikes.
Tesch agrees extra security is needed, but has questioned the AOC’s proposed curfew.
“This happened at quarter to eight in the morning so I don’t know if curfews at nighttime make much difference,” she said.
And when she’s back to compete, Tesch will travel in a larger group for safety.
She advised fellow athletes not to be scared.
“(Rio) really is a beautiful city – just go out there and enjoy it.”
The Rio Organising Committee has promised to mobilise a 100,000-strong force of police, military and other personnel in time for the Olympics which begin on August 5.
The security force will remain in place for the Paralympics which start on September 7 and the AOC has placed a private security firm in Rio on standby for the Games.
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