A total of 126 athletes will represent Mexico at the Olympic Games, while 66 competitors will take part in the Paralympics.

"You will be going to compete, to make Mexico proud, to show capability and send a message of peace, harmony and solidarity with all of the countries that will be represented at Rio," Pena Nieto said at the country’s official send-off before the Games, according to Xinhua.

The event saw the President hand the national flag to cyclist Daniela Campuzano, who has been selected to carry the Mexican flag at the Opening Ceremony.

She had been one of eight candidates who were nominated for the honour and was selected by the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM).

Campuzano will be the country’s sole representative in the women’s mountain bike competition at Rio 2016, with the event due to be held on August 20 at the mountain bike centre in Deodoro.

It will be the first time Mexico have been represented in the sport at the Olympics.

With 126 athletes competing at Rio 2016, it will be the country’s largest delegation since Mexico sent 174 people to Munich 1972.

Alfredo Castillo, head of Mexico's national commission for physical culture and sport, claims the country could slowly develop into a major force on the international scene in future editions of the Games.

"China got five gold medals in 1988,” Castillo told Xinhua.

“At the 2008 Beijing Games, 20 years later, China got 51 gold medals.

“That entails a process of five Olympic Games, where doing things in a professional manner got results.

"An athlete is not built in a day, it takes many years of effort and sacrifice.”

Mexico will hope to build on their total of one gold, three silver and seven bronze medals from the London 2012 Olympic Games in Rio.

Their sole gold came in the men’s football tournament and they will aim to repeat that feat in Brazil.