RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Just weeks ahead of the Olympic Games, police helicopters are grounded, patrol cars are parked and Rio de Janeiro’s security forces are so pressed for funds that some have to beg for donations of pens, cleaning supplies and even toilet paper, fueling worries about safety at the world’s premier sporting event.
Brazil is suffering the worst recession in decades and Rio’s acting governor has declared a state of financial disaster this month, largely to bolster spending on security as the world’s spotlight turns to the city.
“How are people going to feel protected in a city without security,” Gov. Francisco Dornelles told Rio’s O Globo newspaper. “We can have a great Olympics, but if some steps aren’t taken, it can be a big failure.”
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