MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil takes to the streets to celebrate Rio 2016 Olympics

A spectacular scenery and music as background for “unforgettable Games”

Thousands poured to Rio do Janeiro streets and famous beaches at mid day Friday to celebrate the selection of the city to host the 2016 Olympic Games, beating out Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid.

Brazil will thus become the first South American country to host the Olympics, after the city of Rio de Janeiro was chosen to stage the Games.

Rio won a majority of the 95 votes at the meeting in Copenhagen, eliminating Madrid in the final round. Tokyo and Chicago had been knocked out earlier.

Earlier, Brazil's president Lula da Silva told IOC members “it was time to light the Olympic flame in a tropical country”.

Chicago's early exit was a surprise, with bookmakers making them favourites, since First Lady Michelle Obama sponsored in a passionate speech appealing to her family, the presentation of windy city.

Rio's presentation to the International Olympic Committee delivered a passionate appeal for South America to be awarded the Games.

Lula da Silva told the meeting: “Rio is ready. Give us this chance and you will not regret it”.

”Rio will deliver unforgettable Games. You will see for yourselves the passion, the energy and the creativity of the Brazilian people.“

President Lula da Silva said 2016 was an opportunity for the IOC to show that the Games belonged to people of all continents.

”I truly believe this is Brazil's time. For the others, it would be just another Games,“ he added.

”It will not be just Brazil's Games but South America's. It will serve to inspire the 180 million young people on the continent. It is time to redress the balance“.

In anticipation of a favourable outcome Lula da Silva had decreed a half day holiday.

Madrid's surprising success in reaching the final round came after former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch made an emotional appeal for votes.

”I know that I am very near the end of my time. I am, as you know 89 years old. May I ask you to consider granting my country the honour and also the duty to organise the games in 2016,” he said.

At Spain’s presentation King Juan Carlos spoke of the Olympic tradition of the royal family and President Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero underlined that Spain has one of the most updated and toughest legislation in sports doping.

Spaniards who were preparing to celebrate, had to cancel all festivities.

See: Rio 2016 - Olympic Games - Master Plan

05:13 - This video presents the master plan for the construction of venues and sites where the games will be held.