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Olympics are coming first time ever to South America; to the city of Rio de Janeiro the Brazilian capital in 2016!

On Friday the 2nd October 2009 at Copenhagen the International Olympic committee members voted Brazilian capital Rio de Janeiro as the venue of the 2016 summer Olympic Games. In the final race Rio was chosen ahead of Madrid by 66 to 32 votes. There was a great shock earlier as Chicago was left behind getting only 18 votes of total 94 available; in spite of the visit of US President Barak Obama and his emotional speech to the IOC delegates.

The news of the selection of the Rio as the venue for the 2016 games left the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to tears of joy. “From the bottom of my heart I can say that this is the most exciting day of my life,” said Silva; “I can say that I cried during the presentation. Suddenly I was crying so much more than anyone.” The greatest footballer of all times Pele also sobbed as he joined in the celebrations.

Brazil’s emerging position as a world economic power; as the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2016, demanded that Brazil be rewarded for its status, hard work, and its growing importance in the landscape of world politics, President Silva observed.

The games will cost Rio de Janeiro about 15 billion dollars for making all the arrangement for the games, upgrading venues and organizing accommodation etc. “Our slogan is now: work, work, work,” said President Silva. “It is a historical challenge for us. We’re not a second-rated country, we’re a first-rate country.”