The 47-year-old from São Paulo, who won silver in the 400 metres individual medley in Los Angeles in 1984 two years after becoming world champion in the event in Ecuador, will lead the 17-person committee which is made up of athletes, coaches and experts of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

The appointment to the new position comes after Prado (pictured top) worked as sport policy and operations manager for the successful Rio 2007 Pan American Games and he admitted he was delighted to be appointed.

"It is a great honour to head this committee," said Prado, whose term as President will run through to the end of 2016 when the Games have ended.

"I will play a major role conveying the athletes' real needs to the organisation of the Rio 2016 Games."

One of the key functions of the committee will be to provide guidance to Rio 2016 on areas such as planning, delivery and operation, and Prado will be supported by the Honorary President of the committee João Havelange, the controversial former FIFA President who is being investigated for corruption.

Bernardo Rezende has also been named as a member of the Rio 2016 Advisory Committee, which will be vital in helping the city host a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games

Another key member is Bernardo Rezende, the Brazilian men's volleyball team coach and Olympic silver medallist, who has praised the initiative.

"All the athletes involved are willing to contribute," he said.

"Our active participation may help establish excellent services for sport and at the same time increase our awareness of the complexity involved in the organisation of such a big event.

"We also end up learning about other areas' needs".

Brazil's six-time Paralympic swimming champion Daniel Dias is another member of the committee and said it will play a crucial role in the build-up to Rio 2016.

"I was not sure of what I would find, but now I am quite aware of the important role played by the committee for the staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Dias, who is set to be the poster boy of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

"My ultimate goal is to help the city of Rio de Janeiro become a national benchmark in accessibility."

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