Eighteen Brazilian soldiers in helmets and flak jackets, wielding clubs, stun guns, pistols, and rifles were present outside the Caesar Park hotel, a 23-story tower along Rio de Janeiro's spectacular beachfront, where the Dutch national team arrived on Monday, according to Reuters.
After years of construction delays, alleged corruption, infrastructure shortfalls and bickering with FIFA, soccer's governing body, Brazil hopes the Cup at the very least will be safe for the 2 million people expected to travel to games, outdoor viewings and other related spectacles, Reuters reported.
There are the disparate geographic and social risks present in far-flung venues across the continent sized country from Amazon riverboat traffic in the jungle metropolis of Manaus to the influx of Argentine hooligans by car in the temperate south, according to Reuters. The tournament also faces the risks associated with any major international event like terrorism to cyber attacks to street demonstrations, which have already begun taking place.
Around 100,000 police officers are patrolling host cities, and President Dilma Rousseff has deployed 57,000 soldiers, sailors and other troops, coordinated jointly at command centers in each host city, in what is the largest mobilization by Brazilian forces in recent history, according to Reuters.
The government is investing about $850 million in overall security, which covers everything from protecting the 32 teams to containing possible street protests against the World Cup to airspace surveillance, be it with radar and air traffic systems or the constant flights of helicopters now buzzing host cities, Reuters reported.
"The goal of Brazil with the Cup was to promote the country, to show off our cities, and to attract tourists," said General Jamil Megid, a government advisor, in a recent interview, according to Reuters. "Every part of the police, military and intelligence forces have to work together, with an integrated command, in order to do that successfully."
