Rio to host 2016 Olympics

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Brazil will become the first South American country to host the Games after a historic vote by the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen this evening.

Rio will host the summer Games just two years after Brazil host the 2014 football World Cup and the announcement led to wild celebrations among the 50,000 people at a party on the famous Copacabana beach.

IOC president Jacques Rogge, who opened the envelope containing the name of the winning city, said: "All four projects are of the highest quality - thank you for your hard work, energy and commitment. But in every competition there can only be one winner."

Chicago had been the bookies' favourites to succeed London especially after US president Barack Obama flew into Copenhagen to address the IOC this morning.

The Obama magic did not work this time as the American city was knocked out in the first round of voting, followed by Tokyo, leaving a vote between Rio and Madrid.

In the end Rio were convincing victors, beating Madrid by a wide margin, 66 votes to 32, in the final round as all the previous votes for Chicago and Tokyo swung behind them.

Chicago had been knocked out after polling just 18 votes in the first round, compared to 22 for Tokyo, 26 for Rio and 28 for Madrid.

In the second round, Rio came first with 46 votes, Madrid had 29 and Tokyo were eliminated with 20.

That left a head-to-head with Madrid and the Spanish city had confounded expectations by getting so far. But Rio's excellent campaign - masterminded by Mike Lee, who was communications director for London's bid - proved enough.