Rio 2016: Bomb scare at Olympic Beach Volleyball Arena during opening ceremony

Explosives robots were brought in to inspect two suspicious bags, which were later found to be safe

A bomb disposal expert wearing protective equipment examines a suspect package next to the beach volleyball arena during the opening ceremony (Reuters)

A bomb alert at the Beach Volleyball Arena in Copacabana sparked an evacuation and the deployment of bomb disposal robots, while Maracanã Stadium hosted the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics.

The military and armed police cordoned off a section of Avenida Atlantica, a major sea side avenue in Rio de Janeiro bordering Copacabana beach where the Game’s Beach Volleyball Arena is situated, at around 8:40pm local time on Friday.

Bomb disposal teams were deployed to suspect two suspicious bags around 10 minutes later, the Telegraph reports.

Explosives robots were also brought in and the items were later found to be safe.

Bomb disposal squad cordon off an area outside the Beach Volleyball Arena at Copacabana beach, Brazil (PA)

The bomb alert came after thousands of anti-government protestors marched along the waterfront seemingly in support of ousted president Dilma Rousseff.

Michel Temer, a 75-year-old law professor, became acting president after the Senate voted in favour of launching an impeachment trial against Ms Rousseff, suspending her.

Posters at the protests, translated, read: "'Out Temer! The people should decide". A bin with a spray-painted stencil had the words "stop coup in Brazil" written on.

A Bomb disposal robot outside the Beach Volleyball Arena at Copacabana beach, Brazil (PA)

The pre-ceremony protest followed violent demonstrations on Thursday that marred the Olympic torch's arrival in the Brazilian city.

Police shot tear gas at a group of anti-Olympic protesters who assembled in a neighbourhood around half a mile from the Maracanã Stadium out of anger over the cost of hosting the Games

The “Exclusion Games” protest, reportedly organised by a group called Rio on Watch, reflects the resentment felt by Brazilians who criticise the economic cost of the Olympics as the country is undergoing a massive recession, political strife, as well as public health and safety crises.

Following a string of terror attacks around the world, a huge security presence has been put in place in Rio, with the Olympic sites surrounded by large deployments of police and military personnel.

More than 80,000 police and security staff are being used in Rio - double the amount used for the London Olympics in 2012.

Additional reporting by Press Association