While still stunned by the early exit of Chicago the mood at the IOC Session in Copenhagen is “let the carnival begin” for Rio.

While thousands danced on the beach in Rio the Brazilian bid team celebrated their historic victory well into the night in Denmark.

President Lula wept tears of joy, overcome with emotion

“It’s Brazil’s time” the President cried. I cry now because I didn't have the courage to cry during the presentation," Lula said.

In contrast, the king of soccer, Pele, had a smile a mile wide. He was bursting with pride; his country had now won the double. The right to host the Olympic Games in 2016 as well as the 2014 Soccer World Cup. A booming economy, Brazilian officials believe they will do both successfully.

The IOC members obviously agreed, Rio won the Olympic vote by a whopping 66 to Madrid’s 32. Normally a contest decided by a single vote Rio romped in overcoming the enormous pulling power of President Barack Obama, Chicago’s trump card, and King Juan Carlos and Juan Antonio Samaranch, for the former IOC President, who led the charge for Madrid.

The Rio vote is also seen as a triumph for the current President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge. Rio is seen as a bold risk by the President and his members, they are taking the Olympics out of the comfort zone and into unchartered waters, a gamble many felt they would take.

Rio has a very high crime rate. In their final pitch the bid team addressed the problem head on saying they have spent $3.5billion US on public safety… another word for crime prevention.

”We can guarantee a safe and secure Games," they said.

Brazil has a booming economy, but there were doubts about their ability to pay the enormous costs associated with staging the Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games.

To counter this argument they brought along the Governor of the Central Bank of Brazil. He delivered a clear message; money is no object in his country.

Perhaps the biggest vote winner for Rio was the fact that the dynamic economy had helped millions of Brazilians escape poverty and they promised the Games would enable millions more to improve their quality of life.

Mike Tancred - AOC
Copenhagen