Officials are warning travelers about an increased risk of theft during the 2016 Olympic Games. Tourists who openly display wallets, smartphones or jewelry are especially vulnerable, particularly when they leave designated Olympic and tourist-friendly areas.
“A total of 85,000 security personnel will be deployed in Olympic venues and tourist areas, double the number mobilized during the London 2012 Olympics and more than at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. IHS assesses that this saturation of security force deployment will be effective in containing crime, unrest and vandalism during the Olympics, as was the case during the World Cup,” said Carlos Caicedo, senior principal analyst, IHS Country Risk.
Visitors should take extra care in downtown Rio, around metro stations, near major hotels and along beach promenades. While petty theft and pickpocketing are more likely in crowded spots, the overall risk of homicide for travelers remains low; most violent incidents occur in impoverished neighborhoods and typically affect local residents.
The total cost of the Rio Olympic Games is estimated at about $4.1 billion, with roughly 70 percent of funding coming from private sources. The federal government has allocated $850 million to cover wages for public servants and police officers who had not been paid since May, a measure intended to prevent a police strike during the Games.