Brazilian city is first South American city to host Games

Rio de Janeiro has been chosen to host the 2016 Olympics at the International Olympic Committee meeting in Copenhagen, beating hot favourite Chicago.

The US city went out in the first round, despite president Barack Obama flying to Copenhagen, where the decision was being made today, to champion Chicago's case.

The news came as a shock to many, as Chicago had largely been considered the bookies favourite.

The contenders, which also included Tokyo and Madrid, spent the day wooing the judges in the final few hours before the winner was announced.

Rio is the first South American city to host the Olympics.

All four countries used A-list celebrities to impress the committee judges. Obama joined Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the king and queen of Spain and Japan's new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama.

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