Olympics in chaos as security chief is mugged, fans collapse from heat and stadiums sit empty
Top security chief mugged, fans collapse of heatstroke in queues chaos and stars stuck in lifts after power failure — as Rio mayor boasts city is the 'safest place in the world'
CHAOS ruled at the Rio Olympics yesterday after officials were mugged, fans collapsed with heatstroke — and stadiums were left two-thirds empty.
Games security chief Felipe Seixas was attacked by four knifemen as he left Rio 2016’s opening ceremony — after the crime-plagued city’s mayor boasted it was “the safest place in the world.”
Hours later Portugal’s Education Minister was mugged at knifepoint as he headed to his hotel after watching cycling.
There was more embarrassment for Rio’s organisers as two-thirds of the seats for the Brazilian team’s opening beach volleyball game were empty.
And fans forced to queue in soaring temperatures as they waited at under-staffed venue security checks collapsed with heatstroke.
Meanwhile, Argentinian tennis ace Juan Martin Del Potro was among athletes who got stuck in lifts during a power cut.
Del Potro, on his way to his first round clash with world No1 Novak Djokovic, was trapped for 40 minutes.
The knifemen attacked Mr Seixas as he walked to his car near the Maracana Stadium early on Saturday.
A policeman with him shot one of the attackers dead and the others fled. Authorities have attempted to hush up the shooting, which came after Mr Seixas committed 10,000 officers to protect the opening ceremony.
The Brazilian president’s chief of staff Eliseu Padilha had promised the spectacle, attended by 18 heads of state, had an unprecedented level of security.
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Rio mayor Eduardo Paes also boasted the city would be the “safest place in the world.”
Portuguese Education Minister Tiago Brandao Rodrigues, 39, and aide Rita Roque were mugged near their hotel in Ipanema on Saturday afternoon.
The knifeman forced them to hand over cash and mobiles.
Ms Roque said: “It was a bit of a fright but we’re both okay.”
Athletes, fans and journalists have also been targeted on Rio’s streets.
Organisers were also stunned yesterday by the huge numbers of empty seats for Brazil’s opening beach volleyball match against Russia on the Copacabana.
They had expected a sell-out at the 12,000-capacity stadium — but just 4,400 spectators turned up.
Boxing, rugby sevens and tennis also had small crowds. Officials claimed spectators had been delayed by security checks at venue entrances.
Dozens of spectators collapsed with dehydration in 34C heat after water supplies ran out at Rio’s Deodoro venue, home to sports ranging from cycling to rugby.
Australian Hannah Mitchell, 36, was one of those who needed medical treatment.
She said: “I think they could have anticipated the problem.”
