THE OLYMPICS IN RIO – DARK SIDE?

[MechAg94]

http://backwoodshome.com/blogs/MassadAyoob/2016/08/11/the-olympics-in-rio-dark-side/

Massad Ayoob posted this about some of the unreported violence/crime going on around the Olympics.  Have any of you see reporting of this stuff at all?

[Angel Eyes]

There was mention of a police officer who was shot and killed after making a "wrong turn" into one of Rio's slums.  Other than that, very little in U.S. media.

Then again, given the violence in Chicago, Flint, et al., perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to point fingers.

[brimic]

Meanwhile, in the rest of Rio...
https://mic.com/articles/150705/rio-2016-olympics-14-photos-that-show-you-the-other-side-of-rio-de-janeiro#.SkNrBGQ4Z

[TommyGunn]

I believe it was  Fox news that  ran a report on how violence and theft were marring the Olympics.   Even Rio's  head of security was robbed leaving an event.

[T.O.M.]

Interesting this morning.  Reports that Ryan Lockte and three other American swimmers were robbed at gunpoint.  He and his mother were both saying this on social media.  IOC denied it happened.  USOC denied it happened, then reversed course after Lockte's mother posted about it.  Don't know if the IOC has changed their position.  (Edited for fat thumb typing on my tablet.)

[Hawkmoon]

Interesting this morning.  Reports that Ryan Lockte and three other American swimmers were robbed at gunpoint.  He and his mother were both saying this on social media.  IOC denied it happened.  USOC denied it happened, then reversed course after Lockte's mother posted about it.  Don't know if the I I OC has changed their position.

Either two stories, or two versions of the story. One is that he and teammates were robbed at a convenience store. The story I saw first (and the one his mother supposedly spread) was that he was held at gunpoint at a party given by a Brazilian swimmer.

[Perd Hapley]

There's a bright side?

[MechAg94]

There's a bright side?

The US has won a bunch of gold medals?  The first US gold medal won was in a shooting sport which highlighted it quite a bit.

[Hawkmoon]

And, in yet another new twist to the sorry saga of the American swimmers being robbed, it is now being claimed (by an unidentified Brazilian official who is "close to the investigation) that the story was fabricated, and that the truth was one of the four swimmers broke a bathroom door at a gas station and they were then asked to pay for the damage.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_SWM_LOCHTE_ROBBERY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-08-18-11-21-43

Of course, earlier reports said that the owner of the gas station had said Lochte was never there. If he was never there, how could he have paid for the damaged door?

I don't think we'll ever know the true story on this incident (if, indeed, there was an incident).

[wmenorr67]

And, in yet another new twist to the sorry saga of the American swimmers being robbed, it is now being claimed (by an unidentified Brazilian official who is "close to the investigation) that the story was fabricated, and that the truth was one of the four swimmers broke a bathroom door at a gas station and they were then asked to pay for the damage.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_SWM_LOCHTE_ROBBERY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-08-18-11-21-43

Of course, earlier reports said that the owner of the gas station had said Lochte was never there. If he was never there, how could he have paid for the damaged door?

I don't think we'll ever know the true story on this incident (if, indeed, there was an incident).

They got taken by a hooker and/or his/her pimp.

[Hawkmoon]

And yet another version has emerged:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/08/18/us-swimmers-robbery-rio-olympics-ryan-lochte/

[MechAg94]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/21/investigation-ryan-lochte-rio-olympics-authorities/89082232/
According to this, the idea of them being robbed is not entirely untrue.  The language barrier was a problem and at least one gun was drawn.  There is also doubt that any significant vandalism occurred.  Lochte admitted to exaggerating his story, but it sounds like it wasn't completely made up as some have tried to say.

[Hawkmoon]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/21/investigation-ryan-lochte-rio-olympics-authorities/89082232/
According to this, the idea of them being robbed is not entirely untrue.  The language barrier was a problem and at least one gun was drawn.  There is also doubt that any significant vandalism occurred.  Lochte admitted to exaggerating his story, but it sounds like it wasn't completely made up as some have tried to say.

Someone needs to generate a log of how many versions this one story can take on, and who told which version when.

So far, I've read that the episode has already cost Lochte $10 million in endorsement deals.

[MechAg94]

Someone needs to generate a log of how many versions this one story can take on, and who told which version when.

So far, I've read that the episode has already cost Lochte $10 million in endorsement deals.

That is what I think is interesting.  I don't think his story was too far from the truth at least from his perspective and not speaking the local language.  I think he got screwed over by the Rio authorities and the Olympic authorities trying to play coverup on the crime and violence in the area.