Rio 2016 Olympic velodrome track scorched following fire in arena where Laura Trott and Bradley Wiggins won gold after being hit by small hot air balloon

THE track where Bradley Wiggins, Jason Kenny and Laura Trott marched to victory a year ago has been decimated by a fire, after being hit by a hot air balloon.

Rio’s Olympic velodrome suffered major fire damage on Sunday after being struck by a small hand-made balloon, setting the roof on fire, before it spread to the track.

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AP:Associated Press

Brazil’s sports minister, Leonardo Picciani, confirmed the incident on Twitter and posted pictures of further balloons falling near the site inside the Olympic Park.

A video published on the O Globo newspaper website showed extensive damage to a section of the track on which Great Britain’s 2016 Olympic cyclists won six gold medals.

And reporter Sidney White posted pictures and video on Twitter of the damage.

Wiggins won his fifth Olympic gold on the 250m wooden course, while Trott (now Kenny) won her fourth, Jason Kenny won his sixth.

Every single member of Team GB’s track cycling squad walked away from Brazil with a medal in one of the most dominant performances in the sport’s history.

But now that legacy risks being lost after the damage from this inferno.

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Getty Images

There were no reports of injuries and the damage was being evaluated.

A government statement said: "The Ministry of Sport deeply regrets the incident this morning at the Velodrome Park and at the same time criticises this criminal practice of releasing balloons.

"The velodrome, a legacy of the Brazilian Olympic Games, was used by athletes and the community of Rio de Janeiro.

"We await and rely on the punishment of those involved for destroying more than a public good, a common site for all.

AP:Associated Press

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"After the fire brigade, we will assess the damage and measures to be taken to recover this important national asset."

Rio have promised to make use of the 2016 Olympic venues, but many have questioned whether the South American country has the money or willpower to take advantage of the world class facilities.

The 5,000-seat arena was the source of controversy before the Games, with the Siberian pine track stuck in transit as it was shipped half-way across the world.

And then construction staff had to rush to get the circuit ready for the Olympics themselves, after it was laid with only weeks to go before the flame was lit.