BRAZIL (Reuters) - Just a month before the city hosts the 2016 Olympics, police and firefighters converged on the international airport to protest over unpaid salaries.

Rio's been struggling with rising crime, recession and cash shortages that could compromise security plans ahead of the Games.

On the same day, the city's mayor officially opened the Transolimpica rapid transit route linking the Olympic village to some of the Games venues.

It's a 26km road expected to serve 70,000 bus passengers and motorists a day, and cut travelling time by more than half.

Officials say communities in Rio will benefit from it long after the Olympics have come and gone.