The team they have sent to Singapore includes 15 track and field athletes and boys and girls handball teams.

Adriana Behar, a two-time Olympic beach volleyball silver medallist, who was an ambassador for Rio's successful bid, is the Chef de Mission of the team and admits that Singapore offers an invaluable opportunity to give Brazil's youngsters the experience of competing in a multi-sport Games.

She said: "For us, this is a really good test as we're going to host the Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio.

"It's important because the Youth Olympic Games will allow us to know where our athletes need to improve on.

"This is an opportunity for our new generation of athletes to show they can be not only at the 2016 Olympics, but even [as early as] the 2012 Olympics in London.

"This is preparation for our country to have the best athletes for 2016."

Among Brazil's brightest hopes in Singapore are 17-year-old sprinters Jean Roberto Franchini da Silva and Leandro Pitarelli de Araujo, who were both were part of the boys' medley relay quartet that won a silver at last year's World Youth Athletics Championship, and 18-year-old boxer David Lourenco da Silva, a gold medallist at last year's World Youth Boxing Championship welterweight.

Behar said: "All of the athletes want to win and reach their goals [in Singapore].

"The Brazilian Olympic Committee is giving all the support for them to compete as well as they can and to also to give Brazil a good image as everyone will be looking at Brazil as we're hosting the 2016 Olympics.

"There is not one thing that is more important than the other.

"We're still aiming for good results and medals."