Japanese organisers of the World Cup sailing competition are facing an angry backlash for featuring an acrobatic dolphin show in an aquarium during the opening ceremony.

Competitors and officials from the sport's own governing body said the decision sent the wrong message about a sport keen to highlight its green credentials.

The event, a major fixture in the global sailing world featuring 466 sailors from 44 nations, is being held this year at a test site for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Enoshima Island, about 43 miles south of the capital.

The controversial opening ceremony, which involved dolphins leaping high into the air in front of audiences, sparked a flurry of complaints.

Leading criticism was World Sailing, the body that governs global sailing, which expressed its “disappointment” with the performance and highlighted its commitments to protecting marine cetaceans.