Rio de Janeiro fought off a technically sound bid by Madrid to host the 2016 Olympics as IOC voters went for historic choice

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wept tears of joy and could not contain his emotions as Rio de Janeiro was named the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games at a ceremony in Copenhagen tonight.

The Rio bid was marked by a sense of change. The bid committee stressed how awarding the Games to a South American country for the first time would be a catalyst for a changing sense of pride in South America and clearly the International Olympic Committee members were in agreement.

Rio was down to the final two against Madrid after the shocking exit of Chicago in the first round.

The presence of US President Barack Obama in Copenhagen on Friday to lobby for Chicago had been expected to play a big part in the city’s chances and the five-hour visit by Obama this morning even had Lula deterred.

Speaking to the press following the celebrations, Lula joked about the intensive TV coverage of Obama’s every movement while in Copenhagen.

At the time of going to press the Obamas were still en route to the United States and the Chicago camp had been uncharacteristically silent about their reaction to the vote.

The Rio committee had already been hitting headlines in recent days after a Spanish delegate questioned if the Games could ever be held in Brazil over safety concerns.