RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil— Brazil’s interim government 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 Tuesday that despite a budget crunch, the government is granting the armed forces an additional $ 24 million at the request of the Defense Ministry.
The military will begin patrolling sports venues on July 24.
Some 85,000 police and soldiers are to be deployed during the 5-21 August games. That’s roughly twice the security contingent at the London Olympics.
Rio state has slashed budgets across the board, including that of the police.
