Rio organisers hope that João Havelange will attend this year's Olympics and Paralympics ©Getty Images

Rio 2016 remains hopeful that João Havelange, the veteran former FIFA President who was born in the city and celebrates his 100th birthday in two months’ time, will attend the Olympics and Paralympic Games later this year.

Asked about Havelange’s presence during a London media conference on the state of preparations for the event, which now looks set to take place in a period of economic and political turbulence in South America’s biggest country, Carlos Nuzman, Rio 2016 President, said: “He [Havelange] will complete 100 years on May 8.

“I don’t know if he will come.

“I hope that he can come.

“He worked during our bid.

“If you well remember he invited everybody to come for his centenary. 

“We hope that he is in good health.”

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Rio 2016 President Carlos Nuzman, right, is hopeful that disgraced former FIFA chief João Havelange, left, will be able to attend this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro ©Getty Images

As touched on by Nuzman, Havelange played an important part in Rio’s winning bid presentation in Copenhagen more than six years ago, when the Brazilian city, then enjoying a far more positive economic outlook, got the better of Madrid, Chicago and Tokyo, the city which went on to secure the 2020 Games.

Since then, however, his many achievements - he competed for Brazil in water polo and swimming at both the 1936 and 1952 Olympics and played a lead role in modernising football administration and turning the sport into a money-spinning global industry - have been overshadowed by corruption allegations.

In December 2011, he resigned from the International Olympic Committee, where he had been a member since 1963, shortly before he was to face an ethics inquiry.