In pictures: Countdown to Rio

For what will be the first Olympic games to ever be held in South America, last minute preparations are underway in the host city and athletes around the world have been training and participating in Olympic trials.

With just days to go before the games commence in Rio, hundreds of thousands of people have arrived in the city but Brazil with its ongoing economic crisis and political unrest continues to face criticism over whether venues will be completed in time and if security measures are up to par.

Here we look at 31 pictures of preparations in Brazil ahead of the games which will commence on August 5, 2016.

An athlete competes during a track and field meet called "Stars of 2016" in Moscow on July 28, 2016. Russia's athletics federation holds a competition event for the athletes who have been banned from the Rio Olympics over evidence of state-sponsored doping and mass corruption in the sport. PHOTO: AFP

A sanitation worker looks on while a diver practices. PHOTO: REUTERS

A painter works on a mural created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra that when finished will cover nearly 3,000 square meters of wall space and depict indigenous faces from five continents, to welcome visitors to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. PHOTO: REUTERS

Colombia's female rugby team players take part in a training in Medellin, Antioquia department, Colombia, ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. PHOTO: AFP

A Brazilian soldier patrols along Copacabana Beach in view of the Christ the Redeemer statue on the first day of a massive security operation that they say will last through the end of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. PHOTO: REUTERS

An athlete practices ahead of sunset in preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. PHOTO: AFP

Refugee and judo athlete from the Democratic Republic of Congo Popole Misenga rests during a training session. PHOTO: REUTERS

Members of Russia's Olympic team wait to receive blessings from Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill during a religious service at a cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow. PHOTO: AFP

Soldiers take part in army exercise against possible chemical attack at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium, one of the venues for Olympic football ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brasilia, Brazil. PHOTO: REUTERS

Member of the Australian Women's rugby sevens Olympic team Amy Turner runs during a team training session in Sydney, Australia. PHOTO: REUTERS

Britain's weightlifter Peter Kirkbride trains at Team Great Britain's training camp for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. PHOTO: AFP

Boxing trainer Moacyr Lima (L) trains Leandro Guignoni in beach boxing at Pepe beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: AFP

Lithuania's Danas Rapsys takes a selfie during a practice. PHOTO: REUTERS

A rowing team takes a break at the Lagoa Stadium, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: REUTERS

A therapist applies oil on the body of Mexico's Olympic boxer Lindolfo Delgado during a massage session in preparation to Rio 2016 Olympic Games. PHOTO: REUTERS

Street performers dance along Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, less than two weeks before the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. PHOTO: REUTERS

Rowers train in Lagoa Stadium, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: REUTERS

South Korean national archery team member Ki Bo-bae (2nd R) takes part in a training session for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. PHOTO: REUTERS

Nikita Nagornyy of Russia (RUS) practices on the horizontal bar. PHOTO: REUTERS

Policemen stand near mock Olympic rings made of recycled plastic on Copacabana Bean in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTO: REUTERS

Dancers rehearsal for the welcoming of the Olympic teams at the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: AFP

View of the cafeteria at the Olympic and Paralympic Village for the Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: AFP

Manoel Pereira Costa, known as "Master Manel", walks in the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: REUTERS

A member of the Acorda Capoeira (Awaken Capoeira) group prepares for a performance for tourists in the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: REUTERS

People exercise on Copacabana beach, Brazil. PHOTO: REUTERS

A man walks on a slackline between two palm trees on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTO: AFP

Volunteers walk between Coca Cola branded tables near the main press centre and broadcast centre, Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: REUTERS

Venezuela's Alejandra Benitez adjusts her mask in practices. PHOTO: REUTERS

Japanese synchronized swimmers train for the upcoming Olympics. PHOTO: REUTERS

A swimmer prepares to start a practices session. PHOTO: REUTERS

Different Olympic team sailors during their training session in the 49er class in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PHOTO: REUTERS