Weibo, essentially the Mandarin alternative to Twitter, has almost 600 million users across China, meaning it is a key way to circulate information about the Games and the host nation.

Rousseff opened the account with a personal invitation to all Chinese citizens to travel to Rio de Janeiro to watch both the Olympic and Paralympic Games later this year.

“Like the success of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the successful hosting of the event has significant meaning to Brazil,” said Rousseff in a special one minute video, in Portugease but with Chinese subtitles, posted on her account.

"Here you can experience the Brazilian people's joy and energy.

"Brazil is awaiting the Chinese athletes and followers with open arms."

She invited followers from all over the world to attend a "celebration of peace".

Less than 24 hours after the account had been set up Rousseff had over 1,000 followers, according to state-run Agencia Brasil.

Brazilian organisers are continuing to battle a series of problems with less than six months to go until the Olympic Games are due to open on August 5.

As well as construction delays and water pollution on the Guanabara Bay sailing venue, other issues are less under their control, including the impact of Zika virus and the budget cuts resulting from Brazil's worst recession in more than two decades.

Rousseff is not the first international leader to use Sina Weibo in a bid to boost their popularity in China.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and Indian counterpart Narendra Modi are others to have opened accounts.

It is particularly important because many other website, such as Twitter, Facebook and Google, remain banned in China.

China finished top of the medals table at their home Olympics in Beijing 2008, winning 51 gold, 21 silver and 28 bronze medals.

They finished second behind United States at London 2012, with 38 gold medals, 28 silver and 22 bronze, but are favourites to regain top spot at Rio 2016.