Rio de Janeiro, Oct 24 (IANS) International police organisation Interpol will reinforce security at the 2016 Olympics here, according to an agreement it reached with the Rio Organising Committee.
Interpol will help back up Brazil’s security forces mainly through its database which contains information on stolen or lost vehicles, DNA samples and wanted criminals, among other things. The organising committee considers Interpol’s help crucial given the magnitude of the event and the arrival of thousands from different nations, reports Xinhua.
“The agreement calls for the support of the intelligence services in the fight against any action that could affect the integrity of sports. The agreement, even though it is three years before the event, will begin to be put into effect for the trial events,” the director of security for the event Luiz Fernando Correa said Wednesday.
The agreement also calls for Interpol to aid Brazil combat criminal activity linked to major sporting events by training personnel and collaborating in the fight against illegal games, forgery and contraband goods.
Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble affirmed that protecting large scale sporting events that draw millions of visitors “is an immense challenge for any country and Interpol is ready and willing to cooperate”.