Australian rowing coaches reportedly robbed at knifepoint at Rio Olympics
We're scarcely a day into the 2016 Rio Olympics, and already, unfortunate headlines are streaming steadily out of Brazil.
After the first day of competition saw a bullet fall through a press tent and a controlled explosion near the men's road race, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that two Australian rowing coaches were robbed Friday night while walking back to their hotel.
The two coaches were walking a short distance to their lodging after the team's informal opening ceremony on Ipanema Beach when they were approached by two male teenagers.
One teen produced a knife, grabbed one of the coaches by the throat and demanded their money, Australian Olympic Committee spokesman Mike Tancred told the Morning Herald.
"One coach was robbed of his wallet which contained a credit card, and he also lost his team blazer which he was carrying over his arm at the time," Tancred said. "They both lost their mobile phones."
"They didn't resist, they complied and handed everything over," Tancred says.
Neither coach was injured, but Tancred issued a message demanding the Olympic organizers beef up their security efforts.
"The host city has a responsibility to protect all the athletes and officials," Tancred said. "They need to lift their game."
The attack was initially kept secret by Australian officials, as they didn't wish to disrupt the team's focus on the first day of the competition.
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