The Rio 2016 Olympic village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was unveiled to the media on June 23 to mark Olympic Day. LI MING FOR CHINA DAILY

In June an imposing security fence will be installed around the site. About 500 police officers will sweep the entire area in July, inspecting all nooks and crannies from basements to the insides of wardrobes.

"Everyone who enters the village will need to go through an X-ray scanner," Cilenti says. "Even athletes' bags will be checked."

On July 18 the first officials from the national delegations will start checking in. On July 24, the first athletes will arrive in their new temporary home.

Brazilian basketball great Janeth Arcain has been named mayor of the village. Among her tasks will be welcoming athletes and officials to the village and ensuring all their needs are addressed.

"For me, taking on this role is like winning a medal," Arcain said.

The now retired 47-year-old guard holds the record for the most Olympic points scored. She was a member of the Brazil team that won the 2004 world championship and picked up silver and bronze medals for Brazil at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympics respectively. She played for the WNBA’s Houston Comets from 1997 to 2005 and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

The 2016 Rio Olympics will be held from Aug 5 to 21 and the Paralympics from Sept 7 to 18.