Brazil 2016 Olympic victory

Brazil will become the first South American country to host the Olympics after the city of Rio de Janeiro was chosen to stage the 2016 Games.

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

“The world has recognised that the time has come for Brazil,” said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Chicago's early exit was a surprise, after bookmakers made them favourites.

The final ballot saw Rio win by a comprehensive margin of 66 votes to 32.

More than an hour later, IOC president Jacques Rogge finally revealed the result to the world: “Like in every competition there can only be one winner.

“Tonight, I have the honour to announce that the Games of the 31st Olympiad are awarded to the city of Rio de Janeiro.”

The Brazilian bid team leapt to their feet in celebration, began singing their “Marvellous City” song, waving flags and hugging each other.

A tearful President Lula told reporters afterwards: “The other countries made proposals. We presented a heart and a soul.

The BBC's Gary Duffy in Rio said there was “absolute, unrestrained joy” on the city's famous Copacabana beach after the result was announced, with silver glitter flying through the air and tens of thousands of people singing.

In his speech to the IOC earlier, President Lula had promised: “Rio will deliver an unforgettable Games. You will see for yourselves the passion, the energy and the creativity of the Brazilian people.

“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. It is time to light the Olympic flame in a tropical country.”