Earlier today, the International Olympic Committee announced that Rio de Janeiro will be the host of the 2016 summer Olympic Games. Brazil will be the first South-American country to host the Games.
Although President Barack Obama traveled to the IOC headquarters in Copenhagen on behalf of Chicago’s bid for the games, the United States was eliminated in the first round of voting. Chicago’s bid, which the city had been working on for close to four years, had overcome numerous hurdles, and was considered a favorite going into yesterday’s vote.
Crowds that had gathered throughout Chicago reacted with great disappointment when the decision was announced. Chicago’s dismay was shared by the people of Tokyo and Madrid, the other two cities in contention for the Olympic Games.