Construction has been temporarily suspended at the Olympic beach volleyball venue ©Getty Images

Construction has been temporarily suspended at the Rio 2016 beach volleyball venue on Copacabana beach after a necessary permit was not presented to city officials.

Rio de Janeiro's City Government said that construction had been temporarily halted, although Rio 2016 have denied that it will delay the completion of the temporary venue.

Documents required to obtain the necessary permit are expected to be filed tomorrow (June 13) to allow building work to resume.

The temporary 12,000 seat arena is being built on one of the world's most iconic beaches, with work beginning last month.

It will feature a centre court - where Olympic matches will take place - as well as five training courts and two warm-up courts.

While the suspension of construction is said to be a temporary setback, it will come as further embarrassment to Rio 2016, with the International Cycling Union having stated they are “extremely concerned” about the progress being made at the velodrome.

David Haggerty, the President of the International Tennis Federation, also claimed in May that there was “still an awful lot of work that needs to go on” at the Olympic tennis venue.

Brazil will be expected to challenge for medals in both the men’s and women’s beach volleyball competitions at the Games, with the sport enjoying huge popularity in the country.

As a result beach volleyball is expected to be among the most iconic events at Rio 2016, and the sport is among the most in-demand ticket-wise.

Brazil will be expecting success in men's and women's events at the Games
Brazil will be expecting success in men's and women's events at the Games ©Getty Images

Organisers are hoping to make full use of the famous Copacabana and the city's natural beauty in front of the television cameras.

Rio de Janeiro has organised 16 men's tournaments sanctioned by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) since the first on Ipanema beach in 1987, and nine women's.

The first international tournament took place on Copacabana in 1986, and attracted 5,000 fans.

In March the Rio Grand Slam, a major event on the FIVB World Tour, saw Poland's Piotr Kantor and Bartosz Łosiak crowned as men's champions, while Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross won the women's event.

Matches at the Olympics will begin on August 6, one day after the Opening Ceremony.

The men's final is due to be played on August 18, with the women's gold medal game a day earlier.