The Race for 2016: Rio De Janeiro Wins! by Larry Eder

IOC President Jaques Rogge thanked the four candidate cities. He then received the envelope, which contained the name of the winner. He took the envelope, showed the Olympic rings to the camera and announced that the 2016 Olympic Games would be hosted by Rio de Janeiro! The Olympics is going to South America!

Was I surprised? Yes, and no. I did think that Chicago had a chance, but it seems that minds were made up. More than anything, the IOC delegates see their mission is to promote the Olympic movement. Bringing it to another continent, South America, was overwhelming, as was the superbly moving presentation by the Rio team, including the President of Brasil. Right now, there are many stunned people in Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid. The truth is, the whole world was watching Jaques Rogge open that envelope, and announce the XXXI Summer Olympiad.