The official flag of the Olympics has arrived in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, the host city of the next Olympic Games, BBC News reported.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes waved the flag after stepping off the plane with other officials and Brazilian athletes who competed in London.

The flag was handed to Mr Paes on Sunday, Aug. 12 in London before the flame at the Olympic Stadium was extinguished.

The move marks the official start of Rio's preparations for the 2016 games.

Arriving on Monday with the flag, Mr Paes was accompanied by Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the 2016 Games Organising Committee, Rio Governor Sergio Cabral, and the country's team of athletes.

Brazil finished 22nd in London 2012, winning 17 medals, two more than its previous best in Beijing.

Rio will be the first South American city to host the Olympics. The city has yet to construct the Olympic Park and other venues, and many have expressed concern about how much work there is to do ahead of the event.