Olympic Broadcasting Services, the host broadcast organisation for all Olympic Games, is contesting a Brazilian police investigation that has accused it of negligence in the episode during Rio 2016 which saw an overhead camera crash to the ground, injuring eight people.
The camera, suspended by cables, was being used by OBS to provide aerial shots of the main Olympic Park. A Brazilian police report said five people have been charged with "bodily injury" and "had the responsibility to prevent the result" that occurred. The five include three employed by a contractor hired by OBS, one by OBS, and one working with the local organising committee for the Games.
OBS, in a statement reported by the Associated Press news agency, has claimed the cables were cut by a "third party", but did not specify if it believed the act was intentional. OBS said the August 15 incident “was actually the result of the cutting – of its sustaining cables – by a third party. All cables were cut at the same section over the Jacarepagua Lagoon, in an area allegedly secured, exactly adjacent to the Olympic Park.”
OBS has maintained its system was properly designed and installed, and has called on Brazilian police to investigate the matter further. OBS said the cables could have been cut by a highly abrasive line coated with powered glass, which is used in Brazil to fly fighter kites often used by rival gangs.
OBS claimed the presence of a kite on the day of the incident was confirmed by a security guard. It added: “The company would expect after examining the forensic reports, that investigations should be focused in finding and bringing to justice those responsible for this act and identifying those responsible for such a severe security breach in an area immediately adjacent to the Olympic Park.”
The camera incident is not the first Rio 2016 issue to have troubled OBS. The organisation last month was returned equipment seized from it by Brazilian authorities. The equipment was taken on September 18 following the conclusion of the Paralympic Games after a court ruling accused OBS of breaching labour laws during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Prosecutors said OBS made employees work irregular hours and for more than 10 hours a day during the two major events. The equipment was seized as insurance for any salary claims by workers.