Rio de Janeiro to host 2016 Olympics

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee announced Friday. The announcement brought tears to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief several times in a news conference afterward.

"Our hour has arrived," he said. "It has arrived."

Oprah, The Obamas and the city Chicago ... not happy Sally.

A good post: Mike Field

updated 2 hours, 31 minutes ago

As one who supported Chicago. I am sorry they did not get it, but I am equally happy for RIO. The naysayers that have posted their diatribe of negative comments should stop being such sore losers and be happy that the President of the United States and his wife made a personal appearance to try to win it for America. Stop being such jackasses, Chicago lost in a democratic process, pure and simple. Congratulate the winner and be good sports about it, and let the world see some of the spirit that once existed in America. It's called humility. Some of you might just learn something.

Not sure where you're from Bobby but I'm with Mike Field on this. Chicago would have done a good job, as would Madrid but this is a contest and it is kind of nice that the Great American doesn't win everything even with the power of AirForce 1 and the Obamas. The Brazilians are incredibly passionate about sport, in fact about everything, and will host an incredible event in 2016. I might try and get there.

I'm surprised at the response in the US. Didn't they just have one?

Plus all I could think about when they were still in the running - Who wants to deal with the inevitable security checks getting into the country as well as probably every venue?!

I'm glad Rio got it... for the first time in my life I'm considering going for the Olympics. Should be fun!

I'm with you. Yeah. RIO, RIO, RIO.

Thinking about going there too, but not sure it's really a good thing for Brazil. This competition costs way too much money.

That's true...

It would seem that my concerns were shared by the IOC!!

http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/chicagos-loss-is-passport-control-to-blame/

Among the toughest questions posed to the Chicago bid team this week in Copenhagen was one that raised the issue of what kind of welcome foreigners would get from airport officials when they arrived in this country to attend the Games. Syed Shahid Ali, an I.O.C. member from Pakistan, in the question-and-answer session following Chicago’s official presentation, pointed out that entering the United States can be “a rather harrowing experience.”