The Russians, who had faced calls to be kicked out of the Olympics after a World Anti-Doping Agency report detailed a state-backed drug scheme, were led into the Maracana Stadium by Sergey Tetyukhin.

There were few cheers, but none of the jeers that some had feared because of the doping publicity.

The composition of Russia's Olympic team was only finalised after the International Olympic Committee cleared 271 athletes to take part following appeals. Five more swimmers were added on Friday taking their total to at least 276.