The Australian Olympic Committee is so concerned about security in Rio de Janeiro it has hired a private firm to be on standby to protect the national team in the host city. 
Miffed that Rio's mayor and games organising committee boss have ignored their escalating security worries, Australian Olympic chiefs have enlisted the additional and independent safeguards for the national travelling party that will number almost 800 athletes and support staff.
Fairfax Media has learnt the extra protection resources would be mobilised at the discretion and direction of team security director Greg Nance, a former Australian Army officer who was also charged with minding athletes and officials in London.
Meanwhile, Australian team boss Kitty Chiller has effectively given up on a response to her official request that local authorities bolster security on the ground in Rio earlier than planned. This is despite the fact the early security boost proposed by Chiller has been formally endorsed by the IOC.
Chiller's request follows several alarming incidents in Rio with Australian team connections. The latest concerned an AOC staffer who witnessed a close-range shooting while in a cafe in reputedly affluent Ipanema. The AOC employee has had counselling over the incident but is set to remain part of the travelling team to Brazil for the Games, which begin on   August 5.
In   June, Australian paralympian Liesl Tesch and team physiotherapist Sarah Ross were robbed at gunpoint while training in Rio. Tesch, who won gold for Australia in sailing at the 2012 Olympics and has also won silver and bronze medals in wheelchair basketball in previous Olympics, described the incident as "absolutely horrific".
In the view of the AOC, security in Rio next month for the Australian team poses a vastly greater risk than the Zika virus.
"To be honest, what would keep me awake more at night is the potential risk with security," Chiller said. "The 780 people I take over, I want to bring them all back safely and well."