The start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup is only a day away, and Brazil is expecting 3.7 million tourists to flood the country. With concerns about public safety mounting, the Brazilian government has stepped up its security plans for the month-long tournament.
Some 157,000 police and military officers will be on duty during the World Cup, according to the country’s ministry of defense - including army, navy and air force personnel. During matches, air space within a seven-kilometer radius of stadiums will be declared a no-fly zone.
In addition to this small army of police, soldiers and private contractors, there will also be a team of high-tech helpers: 30 robots, known as PackBots, will be on hand to investigate any suspicious packages.
The World Cup kicks off on Thursday when host country Brazil takes on Croatia.