Brazil’s President Rousseff Ensures Security for Rio 2016 Olympics

By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After returning from her first official visit to the U.S., Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff attended the Olympic Torch presentation ceremony yesterday (July 3rd) in Brasília and spoke about security for the Games. She ensured that Brazil will provide adequate security for the 2016 Olympics being held in the city of Rio de Janeiro in August next year.

During the 31st Olympic Games, some 10,500 athletes will compete in 28 sports, in 35 venues spread across four Olympic Zones: the Barra Zone, Copacabana Zone, Maracanã Zone, and Deodoro Zone. Last year the IOC predicted around 480,000 tourists will descend on Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016, and many experts believe this number could be surpassed.

According to the president and government press, with the experience of the World Cup last year, when twelve host cities had a “perfect integration” with the Armed Forces, the Federal Police and Security departments will provide a safe Olympics. “If we were able to ensure security in twelve cities [for the 2014 World Cup], we are able to ensure security in a [single] city. I’m sure of it […]. We integrate our security,” she said.

During the launch of the Olympic Torch, Rousseff mentioned the issue of security, after remembering that she was questioned on the subject in the press conference in Washington D.C., next to the U.S. president, Barack Obama. According to her, combating any possible crime will be guaranteed by the partnership that the federal government has with the state of Rio de Janeiro, and also with the security actions happening in the neighborhoods and favela communities of Rio’s capital.

Designed by Chelles & Hayashi design agency, the Olympic Torch presented yesterday will return to Brasília in May 2016 and start a journey of about 28,000 kilometers on its way to Rio de Janeiro. The torch of the 2016 Olympic Games is white with details in colors that symbolize the nature of Brazil.

It will pass through Brazil’s Midwest, Northeast, North, South and Southeast. According to the Rio 2016 organization, 12,000 people will participate in the torch relay across the country and be received in 300 cities and municipalities.