Off the wire
• Rio 2016 releases Olympic event schedule  • News Analysis: Ghani's U.S. visit underscores shaky security situation in Afghanistan  • Obamacare nemesis says will sign up for Obamacare  • 20 Ugandan athletes to compete at cross country worlds in China  • China urges parties of Iran nuclear issue to seize window of opportunity  • Feature: Germany in deep sorrow over Germanwings air crash  • UN trade report calls on governments to improve environment for e-commerce  • Albania's loan portfolio amount to 4 bln euros  • 49 Albanians repatriated from Europe for breaking Schengen rules  • Feature: U.S. local governments ramp up efforts to woo more Chinese investment  
You are here: 　 Home

38,000 Brazilian troops to safeguard 2016 Rio Olympics

Xinhua, March 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Some 38,000 Brazilian military troops will ensure security during the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Defense Ministry announced Tuesday.

"The objective is to take preventive action," the ministry's special adviser for major events, Gen. Jamil Megid Junior, said in a communique.

In addition to the army troops, members of the navy and air force will be on standby during the world's largest sporting event.

Most of the 38,000 troops will be stationed in Rio, where the games are being held, however some soldiers will also be dispatched to cities hosting Olympic football matches, including Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Salvador and Manaus.

The ministry expects to spend some 580 million reals (about 190 million U.S. dollars) in 2014, 2015 and 2016 on security for the Olympic Games.

That figure includes the purchase of materials and equipment, "especially for preventing chemical, biological, nuclear and radiation incidents, and the prevention of terrorism and cyber attacks," the ministry said. Endi