Rio organisers to fight protests ruling

The Rio Olympics organisers will seek to overturn a court ruling that allows peaceful political protests inside venues.

A federal judge has granted an injunction following action taken by the federal public ministry.

It allows fans to take in protest signs and posters or to wear T-shirts with messages, provided their actions remain peaceful.

The court ruling includes a fine of $4150 for anyone who breaches the injunction and comes after a number of people were removed from stadiums for holding up signs calling for the removal of acting President Michel Temer.

In one incident a video shared online showed a fan being removed from the archery venue by heavily armed commandos

Rio communications director Mario Andrada said organisers would abide by the ruling but would seek to have it overturned and believed they would be successful.

"We have a right to ask for a reconsideration by the judge, which we did," he said.

"Meanwhile we will fully respect the injunction. We will follow the injunction to the letter."

Andrada said organisers continued to believe that sport venues were not the place for political, religious or racial protests.

That would be explained to the judge, he said.

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said the games should not become a platform for political debate.

But he said the IOC would also respect the court's ruling.

The court said nothing in special legislation passed ahead of the Games restricted peaceful protests that did not disturb competition.