Rio Olympics begins with huge party

Rio Olympic Games has officially begun after tonight’s Opening Ceremony, featuring Gisele, carnival-style dancing and an elaborate light display.

But many were left unimpressed by Brazil’s cut-price ceremony - costing around half that of London’s in 2012, branding it ‘boring’.

Others were furious that the money had been spent on the Olympics during Brazil’s worst recession in recent years, reports Daily Mail Online.

That anger erupted into protests outside the stadium as demonstrators, also frustrated over the presence of Brazil’s acting President Michel Temer at the ceremony, clashed with police who used tear gas on the crowd.

Inside the stadium, others showed their anger through the thousands of seats left unsold as the Opening Ceremony began.

The 80,000-seater stadium was less than two thirds full when the lights went down.  A Brazilian presenter told the audience: ‘We are 60,000 people soon to be joined by three billion’ on TV. Twenty minutes before the world tuned in, many of the seats of the ‘sold out’ show remained empty.