Awarded
Rio de Janeiro was awarded to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee announced on October 2. “I have the honour to announce that the games of the 31st Olympiad are awarded to the city of Rio de Janeiro,” said the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge.
The announcement brought tears to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. “Our hour has arrived. It has arrived,” he said.
Nearly 50,000 jumped and shouted in the Carnival-like atmosphere on Rio’s Copacabana beach after hearing the announcement that Rio beat Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo.
For Rio, a major appeal was bringing the Olympics to South America for the first time. “Among the 10 major economies of the world, Brazil was the only country that had not received the Olympic and Paralympic Games. For us, it will hardly be our last Olympics. For us, it will be an opportunity to be equal. It will increase self-esteem for Brazilians, will consolidate recent conquests and stimulate new advances.” said da Silva.
Brazil’s Finance Minister Guido Mantega says the hosting of the 2016 Olympics will spur economic growth in the coming years.
There can be no doubt that Rio will provide a stunning spectacle for the watching world, with the statue of Christ the Redeemer gazing down on the city, and Sugar Loaf Mountain towering in the distance.
Beach volleyball will be staged on Copacabana, while the legendary Maracana stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies.
Rio organizers promised to start working immediately to make the games a success.
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