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Brazil’s armed forces get extra funds before Rio Olympics

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Soldiers patrol outside the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, July 9, 2016. Roughly twice the security contingent at the London Olympics will be deployed during the August games in Rio, which are expected to draw thousands of foreigners to a city where armed muggings, stray bullets and turf wars between heavily armed drug gangs are routine. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil’s interim government announced Tuesday that it is beefing up funding for the military to help it meet security needs for the Olympics that open next month in Rio de Janeiro.

Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani said that despite a budget crunch, the government is granting the armed forces an additional $24 million at the request of the Defence Ministry.

The military will begin patrolling sports venues July 24.

Some 85,000 police and soldiers are to be deployed during the Aug. 5-21 games. That’s roughly twice the security contingent that was used at the London Olympics.

Rio de Janeiro state has slashed budgets across the board, including that of the police.

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