Booing fans raise eyebrows in Rio

Brazilian fans are raising eyebrows and the ire of some competitors at the Rio Olympics with their passionate approach to sport.

From cheering at inappropriate times to booing at others, the locals have brought something unique to the Games.

The booing was noticeable at the beach volleyball, particularly when Brazilian teams were on the court, clearly a tactic to put the opposition off.

The Russian relay team copped the same treatment at the pool, though probably for different reasons in the wake of the doping scandal.

Rio communications spokesman Mario Andrada said booing was part of the football culture in Brazil and local fans were just getting to know some of the other sports.

"One of the main legacies of these games is the fact that Brazilian fans will learn how to love and cheer different sports," Andrada said.

"As you saw in the opening ceremony, Brazilians are very passionate, very vocal, very loud."

But Andrada said the organisers would rather have too much passion than none at all.

"It's a learning curve and they will get better and better as the days go on," he said.

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said Brazilian fans seemed to be pretty egalitarian to him.

"They seem to be able to boo athletes from many countries," he said.