The announcement was made to coincide with the visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron to Washington, where he met her husband, President Barack Obama.

In recent years it has become a tradition for First Ladies to lead the US delegation at Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

George W Bush's wife Laura attended the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer when her husband Bill was in the White House.

It has already been announced that the Queen will attend the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, which is being creatviely overseen by award-winning film and theatre directors Danny Boyle and Stephen Daldry.

"Olympians are ambassadors of their country so it is only fitting that our nation's leaders show support for the Games," said Dominique Dawes, who represented the US in three Olympics winning four medals, including team gold at Atlanta in 1996, and is now the co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

"Mrs Obama's support will only further invigorate the athletes' desire to bring home the gold and motivate all Americans to be active."

One of Michelle Obama's personal projects during her husband's Presidency has been the Let's Move! initiative, promoting fitness and healthy eating, and she recently appeared on a television chat show performing press-ups whilst being interviewed.

"In the months ahead, I'll be talking to Americans all across the country to encourage even more young people to tap into that Olympic spirit and turn their inspiration into action," said Obama.

"As the Olympic creed states, 'the most important thing ... is not to win, but to take part.'

"And that doesn't just mean sitting and watching, it means getting up and getting active as well. 

"I hope we use the upcoming Games as motivation for all of us to get up and get moving." 

Michelle Obama's last appearance on the Olympic stage was when she gave a speech to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its Session in Copenhagen in October 2009 when Chicago were bidding for the 2016 Games.

But it made little difference as they were knocked out in the first round as the event was awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

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