Australian rowing coaches robbed at knifepoint near Ipanema Beach
With negative stories about security, contaminated water, Zika mosquitos and almost everything else related to the Rio Olympics reaching something of a fever pitch in the weeks leading up to the games, many held hope that once the Games got under way and athletes began actually competing, the negativity would fade into the background.
Unfortunately, that’s not been entirely the case.
A report in the Sydney Morning Herald revealed that two Australian rowing coaches were stuck up at knifepoint near Rio’s Ipanema Beach while walking back to their hotel on Friday night.
According to the Herald’s account, the two coaches, both wearing official team apparel, were making their way the short distance back to their hotel following an informal opening ceremony held by the Australian team on Ipanema Beach.
At around 8:30 p.m. local time the coaches were approached by two teenage males. One of the teenagers pulled a knife and threatened the two coaches, neither of whom was named in the report.
“One coach was robbed of his wallet, which contained a credit card and he also lost his team blazer which he was carrying over his arm at the time,” said Australian Olympic Committee spokesman Mike Tancred. “They both lost their mobile phones.”
“They didn’t resist, they complied and handed everything over.”
Thankfully, neither of the coaches was injured in the incident. But Tancred was damning in his assessment of the standard of security for the Games.
“The host city has a responsibility to protect all the athletes and officials. They need to lift their game,” Tancred said.
The two coaches were apparently on their way back to their own hotel following a dinner at the athletes’ hotel a short distance away. As a result of the incident, all officials and athletes traveling between the two hotels will now travel in a vehicle.
The Australian delegation has also issued a directive that all team members should wear casual clothing rather than official team outfits in order to maintain a lower profile. Team members have also been instructed to move about in groups of three or more.
“They seem to be picking off people in ones or twos,” said Tancred.
Australian officials initially kept the attack a secret until after the rowing team’s first day of competition in order to prevent the incident from becoming a distraction.
The robbery is just one of a growing number of unfortunate occurrences that have taken place since the Games got under way. That includes a stray bullet finding its way into the media room at the Equestrian Center and a controlled explosion being detonated near the finish line of the men’s cycling road race.
