COPENHAGEN: Rio de Janeiro was chosen as the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games after an International Olympic Committee vote in Copenhagen on Friday.
The Brazilian city beat Madrid for the right to host the Summer Games after Chicago and Tokyo were eliminated in earlier rounds.
The result was announced in a presentation due to start at 1630 GMT.
Rio de Janeiro and Madrid go through to a final round of voting, after Chicago were eliminated in the first round.
Tokyo were eliminated after the second round of voting for the 2016 Olympics host city.
It was a stunning defeat for Chicago, which was expected to be one of the two finalists. Not even the presence of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama — nor a long list of celebrities — was enough to help the United States' third-largest city.
Chicago had seemed to pick up momentum in the last few days, with many International Olympic Committee members seemingly charmed by Mrs. Obama. But when IOC president Jacques Rogge announced the results of the first vote, Chicago's name was announced.
Hoping to persuade the IOC to award Chicago the 2016 Olympics, Obama and his wife led a heartfelt and, at times, very personal plea Friday.
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1) The world is ending in 2012 anyway.
2) 75% of Chicago didn't want this drama to begin with.
Thank. Gawd
