Rio to host 2016 Summer Games
It was announced today that the 2016 Summer Olympic Games will take place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, marking the first time a South American country will host an Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark Oct. 2 to make their decision at the 121st IOC Session and Olympic Congress.
U.S. President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and Television mogul Oprah Winfrey traveled to Copenhagen this week to campaign for their hometown of Chicago, which was eliminated in the first round of voting.
Among the Windy City’s competitors for the bid were Madrid, Spain and Tokyo, Japan, which was knocked out in the second round of voting.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and soccer legend Pele celebrated in Denmark as did 50,000 of their countrymen gathered at Copacabana beach.
After today’s decision only the continents of Africa and Antarctica have never been selected to host an Olympics.
Brazil will also host the 2014 Soccer World Cup.
Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this story.
Image from www.rio2016.org
