François Hollande flies Paris 2024 colours in Rio

French President François Hollande flew into Rio de Janeiro for a two-day visit on Thursday, on a jet bearing the logo for the Paris 2024 Olympic bid.

French President Hollande shakes hands with Brazilian former football player Paulo Lima Cesar Caju during his visit to Brazil. Jack Guez/Pool/AFP

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was already in Rio and the pair, both known sports enthusiasts, will canvas support for the 2024 Games bid while taking in the opening ceremony

"It's my responsibility to be here, in Rio, to meet the maximum number of representatives of the Olympic movement and to convince them that Paris is the best choice and France the best destination," said Hollande.

France's President will be jostling for attention with Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Hungary's President Janos Ader at the Rio opening ceremony on Friday.

Budapest, Los Angeles, Paris and Rome are in contention to stage the 2024 Games and the Rio Games will be a key campaign stage ahead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote in September next year.

There is no clear favourite though Paris and Los Angeles are considered the frontrunners.

IOC member Tony Estanguet said Rio was a chance to "take the temperature of the IOC's expectations" for 2024.

The IOC vote will be at a meeting in Lima in September next year.