Jemima Sumgong runs through the finishing tape to win the Olympic women’s marathon in Rio on August 14, 2016.PHOTO/AFP
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Aug 14 – Protesters sought to disrupt the Olympic women’s marathon on Sunday running in front of the leaders near the finish before being intercepted by police on motorcycles.
About five demonstrators were seen climbing over barriers to get onto the course in front of winner Jemima Sumgong of Kenya and other leaders about two kilometers (1.5 miles) from the end.
Each time the intruder got on the course, they were chased by police. The runners were not disrupted.
Other protest banners were seen earlier in the race on the sidelines. Opponents of Brazil’s interim leader Michel Temer waved ‘Fora Temer’ (Temer out) banners all along the course.
The Olympic hosts are in the midst of a political crisis with Temer in the firing line of the opposition since he took over from President Dilma Rousseff who faces an impeachment trial.
