Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong(R), Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy, delivers a speech during her visit to Chinese Olympic delegation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Aug 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Liu hailed the Olympic Games as the largest and most influential sporting event in the world as well as a platform for communications and exchanges.

"I hope that you can plant the seeds of friendship and become Chinese people's ambassadors while delivering your best level," she said.

Spearhead by 35 Olympic champions, the Chinese team are expected to win gold medals in table tennis, badminton, shooting, gymnastics, diving and weightlifting, the six sports in which they have long dominiated.