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New Zealand Jiu Jitsu Athlete Kidnapped In Rio 11 Days From Olympics

New Zealand Jiu Jitsu Athlete Kidnapped In Rio 11 Days From Olympics

Oh dear.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Not to start any fear mongering ahead of the Olympics but it's not good when an athlete claims he was kidnapped less than two weeks from the games starting. It makes it slightly better that it was someone from a non Olympic sport, we think.

Obviously no story about kidnap is good but the athlete in question, New Zealand jiu-jitsu star Jason Lee, seems fine and it's not like Usain Bolt has been held hostage to kick off mad panic about a lack of security for those taking part.

Lee lives in Rio full-time and was reportedly taken by men in police uniform who then took him to two cash machines and forced him to take money out of both before handing it over to his captors.

It's not good for the police and the city ahead of the glare of the world's eyes being on them during the Olympics that take place from August 5th to Sunday 21st. However as with the World Cup in Brazil two years ago there is likely to be a hell of a lot more police on the streets during the games which should cut down on safety fears.

Jiu Jitsu isn't an Olympic sport currently.

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Topics: rio, olympics