A gate of the Maracana Stadium, the host venue of the Rio Olympics, had to be forced open after organisers reportedly lost the key.

Julia Carneiro, a BBC reporter in Rio de Janeiro, captured the incident on video outside the stadium, prior to Wednesday’s women’s football match between Sweden and South Africa.

Two men described as ‘firemen’ are seen using a pair of bolt cutters to break the padlock and open the gate.

“What a start! #Rio2016 kicking off with lost key and firemen forcing open lock to east gate of Olympic stadium #oops,” Carneiro wrote.

In a tweet sent one hour earlier, Carneiro claimed that spectators were forced to queue for up to two hours before being ushered to another entrance.

The incident, coming just two days before the opening ceremony, will embarrass Olympic organisers at a time of great scrutiny.

Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Show all 8 1 /8 Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio Olympic and Paralympic venues A man washes himself in the polluted waters of Guanabara Bay in Rio AP Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio Olympic and Paralympic venues An aerial view of surfers paddling into the polluted waters off Sao Conrado beach in Rio AP Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio Olympic and Paralympic venues An aerial view shows sewage moving into the canals that rim the Barra de Tijuca neighborhood near Olympic Park in Rio AP Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio Olympic and Paralympic venues Houses stand next to the heavily polluted shore of Guanabara Bay in Rio AP Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio Olympic and Paralympic venues An aerial photo, shows sewage, below, polluting a water canal that rims the Barra de Tijuca neighborhood near the Olympic Park in Rio AP Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio Olympic and Paralympic venues Children try to catch a crab as they play on the polluted shore of Guanabara Bay in Rio AP Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio Olympic and Paralympic venues An aerial view shows trash on the shores of Guanabara Bay in Rio AP Rio 2016 water contaminated by raw sewage and waste Rio Olympic and Paralympic venues The Alegria Sewage Treatment Plant operates alongside Guanabara Bay in Rio AP

Earlier this week, it was revealed that some 1,400 aquatic athletes were at risk of becoming violently ill due to high levels of pollution in Rio’s waters.

Swimmers and other athletes who ingest just three teaspoons of water will almost certainly contract viruses that can cause stomach and respiratory illnesses.