REPORT: Security tight at Maracana ahead of Opening Ceremony

Security is tight outside the Maracana Stadium, where the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games will take place on Friday (August 5).

As the sun rose over Rio de Janeiro is a glorious wake up to the opening day of Brazil's first Olympics, armed soldiers and police gathered around the famous soccer stadium which will host both the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Games.

Police holding rifles patrolled the streets, with security vehicles around every corner of the Maracana - with local residents expressing their confidence in the security.

Local residents, however, expressed their confidence of the security in the city.

“The security has been improved a lot, the security around here and in front of the stadium. We live in the neighborhood here by the station and I can see the security here is really good, improved. It's good planning that I think will work”  said 56-year-old Helder Leao.

“I think they have made a great effort, there is an enormous contingent of troops, all kinds of troops and national guards. It's really interesting, but I don't know how it will be when it all starts,” said 22-year-old Rodrigo.

 Brazil has deployed 88,000 police and troops to protect local people and as many as half million travelling tourists from terrorist threats and dissuade muggers during the South America's first Olympic Games in Rio.

 Rio has a high incidence of crime, including pick-pocketing and armed robberies that can happen at any place and at any time, a U.S. State Department advisory said.

 Brazil has more homicides than any other nation, according to annual United Nation reports on murders, and Rio has recently endured an increase in crime amid an ongoing recession, rising unemployment and shortfalls in public security budgets.

 But the city has consistently pulled off massive events such as Carnival, the 2014 World Cup final and one of the world's biggest New Year's Eve bashes with few security hiccups for visitors.

 

REUTERS