Rio Hosts 2016 Olympic Games

After days of intense voting, the International Olympic Committee had finally picked a host for the 2016 Olympics last Friday, October 2. And the triumphant winner is Rio…after beating out Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago.

This is the first time for a South American City to host the Olympic Games and the Brazilians are absolutely thrilled. On Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach, nearly 50, 000 people roared when the winning city was announced by IOC president, Jacques Rogge. The celebrations on the streets of Rio headed into the night.

“It is Brazil’s time,” said the country’s charismatic president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.