Local police fired tear gas Wednesday night to disperse protesters after they tried to interrupt the Olympic torch relay in the city of Angra dos Reis, in Rio de Janeiro state.
Protesters had placed objects on the relay route to try to disrupt the torchbearers’ journey.
The Olympic torch will arrive in Rio de Janeiro on August 4, one day ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
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Rio’s Games have been hit by Brazil’s economic recession. Officials for the state of Rio de Janeiro have said the government body is essentially “broke,” closing schools and hospitals, and delaying pension payments.
Meanwhile, Brazil is spending about $10-12 billion in a mix of public and private money to prepare for the Olympics.
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