It is undersootd the 51-year-old, who has been Governor since 2007, has stepped down so he can launch a campaign for the Federal Senate, the elections for which are in October.

His resignation comes just days after Municipal Olympic Company President Maria Silvia Bastos Marquez quit her post.

Rio 2016 officials are also yet to meet for what has been described as a "fundamentally important" meeting between the three levels of Government to resolve issues with preparations for the Games.

It was initially due to be held at the end of last month.

Cabral was in the Danish capital Copenhagen in 2009 when Rio beat Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago to win the right to stage the Games - having helped to mastermind the bid after Rio failed to make it as a candidate city in the 2012 race.

Sérgio Cabral (left), with Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes last year overseeing construction for a tunnel to the Transolimpica expressway, won re-election in 2010 ©Getty Images





He helped launch the Rio 2016 big logo on Copacabana beach on New Year's Eve 2010, and has led the fight against crime in the city, with police called on to clean up some of the most notorious and dangerous slums ahead of both the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In January, he met with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in Rio de Janeiro, during the German's first visit to the city since taking up his post last September.

Cabral won in re-election in 2010, but his popularity has taken a knock with protests in Rio over the last year about services and the rising cost of staging the World Cup and the Games.

By law, he has to step down as Governor if he is seeking election to another office.

He is succeeded by Vice-GovernonLuiz Fernando Pezão, who will see out Cabral's term which runs to the end of the year.

After being sworn in, he wrote on Twitter: "I know that the task will be daunting and difficult, but I will continue working hard to improve the lives of the population.