Over 1,000 U.S. spies in Rio to protect Games, American contingent

Members of the U.S. Women’s National soccer team in Rio (Getty images)

 

Concerns over security are just one of the many storylines of these Rio Summer Olympics, so it should come as no surprise that the United States has sent hundreds of personnel to Brazil to make sure that the American contingent and the Games themselves are safe.

NBC News reported Friday that the U.S. assigned more than 1,000 spies, including analysts, law enforcement and special operations personnel to the Games, and with the Opening Ceremony on Friday night, they are already on the ground.

Additionally, more than a dozen highly-trained Navy and Marine Corps soldiers from the U.S. Special Operations command are in the country, working with the Brazilian Federal Police and Brazilian Navy.

NBC News was able to review a highly classified report on the American efforts for Rio, and also gathered information from senior military officials.

According to the classified report, all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies are part of the effort; in addition to the armed services, human intelligence, spy satellites, electronic eavesdropping, and cyber – and social-media monitoring are all being employed. Among other things, the 10,000-plus global athletes taking part in the Games as well as 35,000-plus security personnel, police and others all had to be vetted.

“U.S. intelligence agencies are working closely with Brazilian intelligence officials to support their efforts to identify and disrupt potential threats to the Olympic Games in Rio,” said Richard Kolko, a spokesman for National Intelligence Director James Clapper.

The operation is being conducted with the full cooperation of the Brazilian government.

“U.S. intelligence cooperation with Brazil has been excellent since 9/11,” a senior intelligence official told NBC News, adding, “We consider the Brazilians to be well-prepared and highly professional.”

The U.S. military, as expected, has placed larger military units on call should a rescue or counterterrorism operation be needed. There has been no indication of a specific plot against the Games.

While the United States is one of 51 countries providing intelligence, in number personnel assigned, the U.S. is second only to Brazil.