The Australian Olympic Committee has said it will clamp down on its athletes’ activities away from the sporting arena amid concerns about security after the gunpoint robbery of Ryan Lochte.
The six-time gold medallist and three other US swimmers were held up in Rio early on Sunday morning after a night on the town, prompting the Australians to ramp up their security measures.
The chef de mission, Kitty Chiller, said the popular beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana would be off limits after dark for Australian athletes, some of whom are now beginning to unwind after the completion of their events.
“Security is our primary concern for our athletes and team members,” Chiller said. “Greg Nance [the security director] met with our team directors and, for those sports who have finished their competition, we have introduced further security protocols, especially for those travelling to the Ipanema and Copacabana area, to ensure above all else we keep our team members safe.
“We reiterated our initial protocols, which is they should travel in groups of three. We have put now the actual sand on the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches off limits [between 6pm and 6am]. There has been an increase in petty criminal – but still criminal – activity on the beaches.
“If travelling at night after dark – between 6pm and 6am – that is only by vehicle, not by foot even if you’re going 400 or 500 metres.
“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.”
Two Australian rowing coaches were held up at knifepoint at the beginning of the Games, after which the AOC claimed security measures taken by the host city were “just not good enough”.
In June two men threatened an Australian Paralympic sailor and official with a gun and stole the bikes they were riding.
Members of the Australian team, which numbers 422 athletes across 26 sports, have been advised to wear a team uniform if they venture out of their accommodation and have been encouraged to head to Barra instead of the Copa and Ipanema downtown area for a night out.
Mitch Larkin, the gold medal-winning swimmer, acknowledged the new measures were needed as “health and safety are the most important things in life”, even if it was “a little disappointing” that athletes’ safety was an issue in Rio.
“Kitty and the team and Wayne Lomas our head leader have set thee guidelines which is fantastic,” Larkin said. “There are certainly other areas we can see. I know we’ve planned a tour to the Christ Redeemer later this week, Sugarloaf mountain – just to name a few.
“We will still see parts of Rio. Unfortunately it probably won’t be the famous Copacabana but we can go past it. We’re used to it as swimmers, we see the airport, drive to the pool and see the accommodation and then usually head home and it’s not until later in life we get to go back and experience the full touristy atmosphere.”
