The Olympic torch began its final journey to the opening ceremony of the Games yesterday beneath the outstretched arms of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, while anti-government protests clogged the famous Copacabana beach boulevard.

After seven years of preparations for the opening at the Maracana stadium late last night, organisers hope the start of the Games will turn the page on months of bad publicity for Rio, from polluted water to faulty plumbing at the athletes’ village and worries about the Zika virus.

Under cloudless blue skies, former Brazilian women’s volleyball player, Maria Isabel Barroso Salgado, lifted the flame beneath the giant statue of Christ that overlooks downturn Rio and the waters of Guanabara Bay.

“May this be the moment for us to overcome difficult times and to work as a team, to make our country and our world fairer and safer,” said Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta, flanked by Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes.

Having won the Olympics in 2009 during an economic boom, Brazil since slipped into its worst recession in decades and a political crisis that has deeply divided the nation of 200 million people.

The torch’s three-month, 20,000-km journey across Brazil ran into difficulties this week as protests flared in towns around Rio against the Games’ $12 billion price tag, at a time of high unemployment, rising crime and cutbacks to health and education spending.

Rio were seeking to put that behind it last night when fireworks were expected to lit up the night sky above the Maracana during the opening ceremony which was set to host the Games’ 11,000 athletes and dozens of heads of state in attendance.

One of the most anticipated moments was that of discovering which famous Brazilian will light the Olympic cauldron.

In a surprise announcement, representatives for soccer legend Pele said he would not be taking part.