Making Rio safe the Chinese way

China-made security equipment has been installed in Maracana Stadium, where the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympics will be held, according to the manufacturer concerned.

More than 200 security-check machines made by Beijing-based Nuctech Company Ltd will be used during this month's Olympics, which will see more than 500,000 tourists and 10,000 athletes from around the world converge in Brazil.

Chen Yongjian, general manager of the Brazilian branch of Nuctech, said the equipment will be installed in all the four major venues. Some 145 machines will be used at Maracana and 55 at Deodoro. Some machines will be also used during the Paralympic Games to be held in September in Rio de Janeiro.

Founded in 1999, Nuctech has been offering security solutions such as cargo inspection, personal screening, explosives and narcotics detection, and radioactive substance monitoring for customs, events, law enforcement and prisons.

Its products are sold to more than 140 countries and regions around the world.

The company has provided security equipment and technological support for international events such as the (tennis) Championships at Wimbledon, the Milan Expo and Boao Forum for Asia. It is the third time that the company has provided security service for Brazil after the Pan American Games in 2007 and the FIFA World Cup football in 2014.

"The requirement for the Olympics is quite different from normal security-check machines," said Chen. "For instance, the machines to be used on the Copacabana beach for the beach volleyball games were specially designed for installation on soft sand and to withstand corrosion by sea water."

Top quality manufacturing, a record of fast execution and brand equity of Chinese companies have helped Nuctech to become the main security services provider for the Olympics, said Chen.

Alexandre Moraes, the national security minister of Brazil, said the country is ready security-wise for Olympics.