The Olympics in Rio are set to begin this Friday amid a long list of troubling issues. Just the other day, the entire security firm for the major sporting event was fired. Now, there are reports that Chinese hurdler Shi Dongpeng and his cameraman were robbed in an elaborate (and disgusting) scheme.
On July 25, Dongpeng and his cameraman were checking into their hotel in Rio around 10:30 p.m., when what appeared to be a drunk man threw up on the Olympic hurdler and then ran off, as the International Sports Press Association reports. Dongpeng left to clean himself off, and his cameraman attempted to chase after the drunk. When they both returned, they discovered that all of their baggage and equipment had been stolen.
After watching hotel surveillance footage, they realized that the alleged drunk and another man were working together. While the cameraman went to chase the man who vomited on Dongpeng, the drunk’s “partner-in-crime” swooped in and took all of their belongings. To make matters worse, when Dongpeng and his cameraman reported the robbery at the local police station at around 2 a.m., they had to wait in line for hours behind others who had also been mugged.
The Brazilian government says they are going to step their security up during the Olympic games, according to AIPS, but it is no surprise that many athletes and tourists alike are weary about coming to Rio.