Brazil's interim president confident of Rio 2016 success

Brasilia, July 30 (IANS) Brazil's interim President Michel Temer reiterated his full confidence that the Rio 2016 Olympic Games would be a resounding success, despite recent terrorist attacks in the world and concerns among athletes and tourists about crime in the host city.

At a press conference from the presidential palace in Brasilia on Friday, Temer said, "We have an extraordinarily tight security system in Rio de Janeiro to guarantee the Olympic Games go well. We have sent the army, the navy, the air force, the federal police, and intelligence agents."

Temer said the effectiveness of the security apparatus had been shown over the last week, as 13 people accused of sympathizing with the Islamic State and of planning terrorist attacks were detained, reports Xinhua.

Temer added that Brazil has hosted such major sports events in the past, including the 2014 World Cup, without incident.

One week out from the opening ceremony on August 5, delegations and tourists are arriving in Brazil, but robberies, assaults and kidnappings have been reported.

However, Temer replied that despite all the efforts made to improve security in Brazil ahead of the Games, the country still faces prejudice internationally. He added that he preferred to wait for opinions to emerge after the Games.

"We await the opinion after the Olympics. With the success of these Games, all the comments will be favourable to the country. Our advantages will be recognised," he noted.

Temer concluded by saying that, in 2014, "Brazil may not have won the World Cup but won the world during the Cup."

--IANS

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