3 incidents raise security concerns
Dead body, stray bullet, small blast drag down Day 1
Three incidents Saturday underscored the uncertainty surrounding security at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Spectators leaving the opening ceremony early Saturday morning were confronted by the body of a man shot dead near Maracana Stadium.
Witnesses said blood poured from the body onto the road after multiple loud shots had been heard, prompting volunteers and fans to duck for cover. A shooter was seen running, then fleeing in a car.
At the Olympic Equestrian Center media tent, a stray bullet cut through the roof, alarming journalists. No one was injured.
The venue is next to a military complex, though police were still trying to discover who fired the bullet and from where.
“It was a stray bullet and has nothing to do with the Games,” organizer Mario Andrada said.
And near the finish line of the men’s cycling road race, a small blast shook the area. No one was injured, and the event went on unaffected, but a loud boom was heard and the ground shook. Venus out: Venus Williams faded as her opening match at her record fifth Olympics dragged past three hours, losing 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) to Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium.
The 36-year-old American, owner of four gold medals and seven Grand Slam titles, showed frustration by shouting “Ridiculous!” after dropping one point. A Solo milestone: Hope Solo made the 200th appearance of her international career — the most by any goalkeeper in history — as the U.S. women shut out France 1-0. Carli Lloyd scored in the 63rd minute. Bring some soap? After all the talk about staying out of the water in Rio, Serbian rowers Milos Vasic and Nenad Benik found themselves immersed in it.
The pair capsized — a rare sight in elite rowing — into the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, where choppy water left athletes struggling to stay in their boats.
The World Rowing Federation decided to keep the competition going despite the rough conditions because forecasts show “it’s going to be even worse” in coming days, executive director Matt Smith said.
Many rowers had said they’d try to avoid contacting the water because of concerns about pollution. Harrowing trip: Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium won a three-man final sprint to the finish at Copacabana Beach to capture the cycling road race, which featured brutal climbs, withering heat and a crash involving the leaders on the final descent.
Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali, one of the favorites, broke his collarbone in a crash. Also: Kevin Durant scored 25 points as the U.S. basketball team routed China 119-62 in its opening game . ... Andrew Bogut scored 18 points in Australia’s 87-66 upset of France, which many considered the second-best team in the tournament . ... Wilmington’s Kelly Murphy led all players with 13 kills in the U.S. women’s volleyball team’s 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 win over Puerto Rico.