Rio 2016 Olympic Games kick off with stunning opening ceremony (photos)

The 2016 Olympic Games officially began in Rio de Janeiro on Friday night with a colourful opening ceremony.

Under the gaze of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue, 80,000 people packed into the Maracana to watch the four-hour party to kick off South America’s first Olympics. See all the colourful photos from the event plus photos of the athletes' outfits below.

There was a protest though. As the clock ticked down to the start of the ceremony, thousands of
Brazilian demonstrators took to the streets to vent their fury at Brazil’s rulers and the multi-billion-pound cost of the Games.

Brazil is battling a crippling recession, double-digit unemployment and rising crime.