It would be the first time in the history of the Olympic games that a South American City would host the pinnacle of sports.
That was Brazil pitch to the International Olympic Committee and on Friday they bought into it. Brazil was chosen, over Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid to host the 2016 Olympic games in the colorful city of Rio de Janeiro.
"Brazil has conquered its world citizenship. We showed the world that we have the capability of hosting the Olympics,” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” Da Silva said. “It was very difficult in other time to think that a country of the third world could host the Olympics,” Lula said at a news conference from Copenhagen, Denmark. “I am very happy.”
Rio’s message got a warm welcome among the International Olympic Committee judges and its president.
“Rio de Janeiro presented the IOC with a very strong technical bid, built upon a vision of the Games being a celebration of the athletes and sport, as well as providing the opportunity for the city, region and country to deliver their broader long-term aspirations for the future,” Jaque Rogues, the IOC's president said.
Rio’s was elected by 66 votes against Spain’s capital Madrid. The votes came in the third round after Chicago and Tokyo were eliminated in the first two round of votes. President Barack Obama accompanied first lady Michelle Obama in Copenhagen to push for Chicago’s bid, but their presence wasn’t enough to help the windy city.
“One of the things that I think is most valuable about sports is that you can play a great game and still not win,” Mr. Obama said after arriving in Washington D.C. “I could not be prouder of my home town of Chicago.”
Mr. Obama took the opportunity to reflect on the importance of Brazil’s pick and what would that mean for Latin America.
“I think this is a truly historic event as these will be the first Olympic games ever to be held in South America. And as neighbors in the Americas, as friends to the Brazilian people, we welcome this extraordinary sign of progress and the fact that the 2016 games will be in the Americas,” Mr. Obama said challenging Brazil’s president to be ready to meet the American athletes “on the field of competition.”
New York city, the last American city to bid for the Olympic games in 2005, was cast out after the second round of votes that gave the games to London.
(Watch Rio's Olympic Bid Video Below)
