Olympic team officials were briefed about the alleged sexual assault of an Australian woman in Paris.
French police are investigating the allegation that the tourist was sexually assaulted by five men, according to local media
French police are investigating the allegation that the tourist was sexually assaulted by five men, according to local media.
According to the reports, the woman aged in her 20s told police in Paris she had been raped by several men last weekend.
The Australian chef de mission, Anna Meares, said she had heard of no threats against team members, but they were being advised to be careful when going outside the athletes’ village.
“I have been informed, it sounds horrific. Obviously our hearts go out to the woman involved and we hope she’s being cared for and supported in the trauma she’s experienced,” Meares said on Tuesday morning. “There’s not a lot of detail and information that has come through.”
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The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was still working to establish if the incident had occurred.
“The Australian embassy in Paris is making urgent inquiries with French authorities following reports of an Australian citizen assaulted in Paris,” a spokesperson said.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stands ready to provide consular assistance.” Meares reiterated that team members had been briefed thoroughly on security and safety precautions.
“What information we’re passing on to our athletes is that security presence is really, really high and that’s in order for them to act as quickly as possible to keep them safe,” she said.
“We don’t yet have any feedback from our athletes that they have felt unsafe – we are encouraging them, if they go out of the village, not to go out on their own, not to wear [their] team uniform, just to wear plainclothes.
“We’re just waiting on further information on the actual case itself.” The alleged attack happened early on Saturday morning on Boulevard de Clichy.
The number of tourists in the city has ballooned ahead of the Olympic Games, with the opening ceremony to be held on Friday.
