The 43-year-old from Cardiff, who won 11 Paralympic gold medals in a glittering career, was recently in Rio for the 2013 Laureus World Sport Awards in the city and said that Brazil have a huge chance to progress after finishing seventh at the London 2012 Paralympics with 43 medals, 21 of which were gold.

"It's important for Brazil to build on the Paralympic success they have had before, especially in athletics and swimming, and have success across a whole range of sports," she said.

"For those who competed in London, hopefully they will have learned so much about home Games pressure.

"They will have watched the British athletes and seen the publicity and media coverage and reactions in the stadium.

"I think the secret for them to be successful now is to train really hard, not get distracted by lots of amazing things that will happen because they are the host nation.

"They need to focus on training and winning in Rio.

"The new guys who are coming into it should use it as an opportunity, because you only get the Games on home soil once in a lifetime, so if you're even on the edge of trying to qualify for 2016, do everything you can because the home Games is just the best thing in the world.

"And if Rio can also use the Games to help continue to change attitudes towards disabled people that would be great.

Baroness Tanni also urged the Rio 2016 Organising Committee to deliver Games full of Brazilian character and not be intimidated by the huge success of the London 2012.

"Every Olympics and Paralympics are completely different and London faced a similar situation after Beijing 2008.

"Everyone said, 'What do you do after Beijing?' but London just did something different and I think for Rio that's the same.

"You have to stay true to your values and spirit.

"I think the whole world just hopes that the Rio Games will be a huge party, a massive celebration.

"When you see carnival and the other things that happen here, people are getting really excited about Rio.

"For me it was great to be a part of London, but then it was time to hand it on and let it be Rio's Games."

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