By Nick Butler

ISDS have been appointed to a security role with Rio 2016 ©ISDSInternational Security and Defence Systems (ISDS) have been appointed IT Systems and Security Integrator at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it has been revealed.


The Israeli company, who describe themselves as a "multi-national security company with a global outlook" with a record stretching back to 1982, will act as a "tier three supplier", a Rio 2016 spokesperson confirmed to insidethegames today.

Their responsibilities will range from consulting to security supply systems.

The deal includes both the Olympics and Paralympics and comes as security remains an increasingly important issue at major sporting events. 

"The challenge is great," ISDS vice-president Ron Shafran told military publication Israel Defence when asked about the role.

"As seen in the media around the world, security in Brazil is a challenge, but we're already coordinating with crews in Israel, as well as [in] Brazil and Europe.

"The crews are working on constructing the fields, with security in mind, as well the construction of technological systems to be installed in all facilities.

"These facilities are located in Rio and in four other regions throughout Brazil."

Security at Rio 2016 is expected to be a wide-ranging and multi-faceted process ©Getty ImagesSecurity at Rio 2016 is expected to be a wide-ranging and multi-faceted process
©Getty Images



Following the widespread protests seen at the Confederations Cup football tournament in 2013, and to a far smaller extent at this summer's FIFA World Cup, the most obvious security risk at Rio 2016 appears to concern civil unrest. 

Yet, the danger of international terrorism remains high, and it is thought security forces from countries including United States and Great Britain will complement the work of ISDS and Brazilian forces.

ISDS are listed on the Rio 2016 website as an Official Supplier of the Games, along with other international companies including Education First, Nielsen, Nike and Technogym.

Shafran added that supporting the Games offered a rare opportunity for an Israeli security firm.

"We very much want to take this platform and integrate Israeli technologies with international technologies, thereby providing unique responses to specific problems - from intelligence to perimeter, crowd control, and so forth," he told Israel Defence.

"We hope these Games will provide a hotbed of Israeli technological solutions to security issues."

"We emphasise small companies with big solutions, in order to give them the stage to present their capabilities and serve as a showcase to the world, despite having a market that is hard to enter."

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