"The time has come for the Brazilian people to understand and to believe that there are people in Brazil skilled enough to raise and spend seven billion reais (£1.8 billion/$2.9 billion/€2.1 billion) in a transparent way," Levy said in an interview with Bloomberg following the announcement last week of the Rio 2016 operating budget.

"They think it's all mixed up with friends of him, friends of so-and-so.

"The money behind the table, these guys are all going to be rich at the end.

"They really think that.

"So we're here to prove the opposite."

The past year has seen some of the biggest protests in Brazil for more than two decades as residents show their anger over rising transport costs, the country's ongoing issues with corruption and the cost of hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

100 people were arrested in São Paulo at the weekend after protests over the 2014 FIFA World Cup turned violent ©Getty Images



Many protesters have claimed funds being used to construct venues for this year's World Cup would be better spent on health, education, public transport and housing, with rallies turning violent in São Paulo on Saturday, leading to the arrest of more than 100 people.

In November, Forbes estimated the cost of corruption in Brazil in 2013 could be as high as $53 billion (£32 billion/€38 billion), and President Dilma Rousseff has fired several ministers over allegations of graft.

Levy told Bloomberg the public sentiment was understandable.

"In so many areas Brazil has gone first world," he said.

"So we cannot tolerate that in so many other areas Brazil is still third world.

"We cannot agree with that.

"We have to go against that."

Last week's revelation of the operating budget for Rio 2016 saw a 25 per cent increase on previous estimates, leaving the cost at 7 billion real (£1.8 billion/$2.9 billion/€2.1 billion), with the capital spending plan – originally estimated at 23 billion real (£5.8 billion/$9.6 billion/€7 billion) – set to be released tomorrow.

The increase in the operating budget has been put down to the introduction of four new sports at the Games - rugby sevens, golf, Para-canoe, and Para-triathlon - inflation, more technology requirements and miscalculation of security costs and worker salaries.

Last October saw teachers protesting over the corruption found in the government of Rio's Governor Sergio Cabral ©Getty Images



Levy told Bloomberg that the majority of the operating budget will be covered through sponsorship, merchandising, ticket sales and a $1.1 billion (£660 million/€810 million) grant from the International Olympic Committee; however, he indicated it was going to be "tough" to find the remaining funds.

Brazil's Government has agreed to cover any shortfall, though such an outcome would mean organisers had failed, Levy said.

"We have to work for them not to do it: that's what all these people are here to do," Levy said.

"It's very important because then I think we will have failed."

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