Rio de Janeiro chosen as host city for the 2016 Olympic Games

http://timesofearth.com/Interview/?NT=1&nid=12355 - Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Olympic Games. Rio beat off the challenges of Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago in a vote by International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegates at the IOC Session in Copenhagen on Friday.




COPENHAGEN, Denmark - The Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro has been selected to host the Summer Olympics in 2016. Rio de Janeiro was selected in the final round of the voting at the International Olympic Committee meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Brazilian city beat Madrid for the right to host the Summer Games after Chicago and Tokyo were eliminated in earlier rounds.

The result of the final ballot was Rio: 66, Madrid: 32.
"I honestly believe it is Brazil's time," Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told the IOC voters. "For the others it will be just one more Games. For us it will be an unparalleled opportunity."

Chicago was considered a frontrunner along with Rio coming into the vote. But, despite President Obama's participation in Friday's final presentation and Michelle Obama lobbying IOC members here the last three days for her hometown, the Second City suffered a stunning first-round exit.

Tokyo went out in the second round, leaving Madrid, which had the powerful backing of former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, as the only challenge to Rio's historic opportunity.

Samaranch, who ran the IOC from 1980-2001, offered up a heartstring-pulling argument during Madrid's presentation, saying: "I know that I am very near the end of my time. I am as you know 89 years old. May I ask you to consider granting my country the honor and also the duty to organize the Games and the Paralympic Games in 2016."

But in the end, it was Rio's passionate pleas to finally include South America in the Olympic rotation that won out. Rio's victory leaves Africa and Antarctica as the only continents that have never hosted an Olympics.

"Rio stands ready to represent the Olympics and start a new journey of celebration, discovery and transformation," Brazilian IOC member Carlos Nuzman told the voters.

The Rio de Janeiro team expressed confidence after completing its bid presentation. One member, 2008 Olympic champion sailor Isabel Swan, said: "Our presentation was very good, it was perfect."

Added Carlos Osorio, secretary general of Rio 2016: "We left the room feeling very well. We clearly felt from the IOC members that our message got across, that they understand the historic opportunity in front of them."

Soccer legend Pele also joked that he would be back in uniform if the Olympics go to Rio. "Most important to me is to play in Rio 2016 Olympic Games," said the 68-year-old. "This will be a victory, no doubt."

Pele, the only person to be on three World Cup-winning teams, never competed in an Olympics. He turned pro at 16, when only amateurs were allowed in the Games.

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