Olympics: Security scares make for troubled start

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — A stray bullet hit a media tent and bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion near the cycling race’s finish line as the Rio Olympics got off to a nervy start on Saturday.

Britain’s Adam Peaty set the Games’ first world record in the 100m breaststroke heats, and America’s Ginny Thrasher won the first gold in the women’s 10m air rifle.

Vietnam celebrated their first Olympic gold medal when Hoang Xuan Vinh won the 10m air pistol as the Games swung into action, with 12 titles on offer.

But it was far from plain sailing for Rio organizers as security scares and logistical problems took the gloss off the start of the two-week fiesta.

Long queues formed at Olympic venues as volunteers and security staff struggled to cope with a big influx of fans on the first day of full competition.

At Copacabana beach, Brazil’s military bomb squad detonated a suspicious package close to the cycling road race finish line, about two hours before Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet crossed for victory.

“The security services found a suspicious package close to the cycle road race finish line in Copacabana and as a precaution decided to perform a controlled explosion,” Rio Games organizers said.

Worse happened at the equestrian venue at Deodoro, which is on a military base, when a stray bullet ripped through the media center’s canvas roof and landed on the floor.

Reports said the bullet narrowly missed a New Zealand team official who was badly shaken by the incident. The New Zealand team urged its members to be careful.

“The New Zealand police assessment is that the bullet was fired unintentionally rather than with intent,” a statement said.

“We have advised all team members to remain within the accredited areas at the venue and travel bubble to bubble.”

‘There are huge queues’

The incidents added to the uneasy atmosphere around the Games in Rio, the sprawling Brazilian city which has a hard-earned reputation for violent crime.

On Friday, police gunned down a mugger outside the opening ceremony venue, the Maracana stadium, and a woman was shot and killed by armed assailants near the Olympic Boulevard.

At Olympic Park, the Games’ hub, fans complained bitterly over transport and logistical problems which soured their experience on a sweltering day in Rio.

“We were caught like sardines in the bus and there are huge queues here,” said Adriana Barbosa who traveled to Rio de Janeiro from Sao Paulo for the weekend.

Rio Olympics spokesman Mario Andrada apologized for the long queues and admitted the tournament needed to raise its game.

“We apologize to everybody who is standing under the sun and in lines outside of venues,” he said. “We need to upgrade that part of the game.”

Thrasher, 19, fired the first shot for the United States when she shocked China’s Du Li and Yi Siling to win the Games’ first gold in the women’s 10m air rifle.

“This is beyond my wildest dreams,” beamed the engineering student at West Virginia University, who clinched victory on her final shot.

Golds were also on offer in weightlifting, archery, fencing and judo on Saturday, while rugby made its return to the Olympic program after a gap of 92 years.

Camille Grassineau scored the first try of the tournament — and the first ever Olympic try in rugby’s sevens format — as France’s women beat Spain 24-7.

And Argentina’s Paula Pareto won the first judo gold medal when she beat South Korea’s Jeong Bo-Kyeong to win the women’s -48kg category.

Elsewhere Serbian rowers Milos Vasic and Nenad Bedik capsized in choppy waters at the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, but won a reprieve when they were allowed to move into the next round.