Rousseff was re-elected by a narrow margin yesterday, winning 51.6 per cent of the valid votes cast to secure a much reduced mandate, having fought off a strong challenge by the pro-business Aécio Neves.

"I would like to congratulate President Dilma Rousseff and wish her the very best for her second term," President Bach said.

"One of the highlights of that second term will be the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.   

"We enjoy an excellent relationship, and the IOC will continue to cooperate closely with her and her Government to make sure that these Games are a great success for Brazil, for the world, and for the entire Olympic Movement."

Thomas Bach has promised newly re-elected Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff of the International Olympic Committee's full support in the build-up to Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Rousseff, a marxist guerrilla during her student years, has pledged to build on her Government's success in reducing inequality.

Over the 12 years of Workers party rule, almost 40 million people - or a fifth of the population - have moved out of poverty.

But there remains simmering discontent among many people across Brazil about the amount being invested by the Government on preparing for the Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, the first time they have been staged in South America.

It follows the FIFA World Cup earlier this year, an event overshadowed by often violent protests in several Brazilian cities. 

Queen Elizabeth opened London 2012, the second time has performed the duty at the Olympics, having also done it at Montreal 1976 ©Getty Images

Providing she remains in office until the start of Rio 2016, Rousseff will become only the fifth woman in the history of the Olympics to open the Games. 

But she will be the third in four Games following Canada's Governor General, Michaelle Jean, who opened Vancouver 2010, and Queen Elizabeth at London 2012. 

It was the second occasion the Queen had opened the Olympics, having also done so at Montreal 1976. 

The first woman to open an Olympics was Norway's Princess Ragnhild at the Winter Games in Oslo in 1952.

The only other woman to open the Games was Jeanne Sauve, Canada's Governor General, at Calgary 1988. 

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