Pentathlete Yane Marques led Brazil's delegation at the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday, sending the crowd at the Maracana stadium into a frenzy.

In keeping with Olympic tradition, the hosts were the last team to enter the stadium, and the 462-strong team was afforded a loud and sustained ovation.

Marques was chosen to hold the flag after beating sailor Robert Scheidt and volleyball player Serginho in an internet vote.

Brazil's squad is its largest ever at an Olympics, surpassing the 277 athletes it took to the Beijing 2008 Games.

Track and field will have the largest number of Brazilian competitors with 67, followed by football (36) and swimming (33).

The hosts have the third-largest squad at the Rio Games, behind the USA and China.