Rio de Janeiro has won the race to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, making Brazil the first South American country to be picked to host the Games.
It beat rivals Madrid in a final round of secret voting by members of the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen, in Denmark.
Chicago had been tipped to win but went out in the first round of the voting, followed by Tokyo.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Rio was ready for the Games.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Rio was ready for the Games.
"Rio will deliver an unforgettable Games," he said. "You will see for yourselves the passion, the energy and the creativity of the Brazilian people.
"I truly believe this is Brazil's time. For the others, it would be just another Games."
It will be a busy couple of years for Brazil as the Olympics will come just two years after it hosts the Football World Cup in 2014.
British handover
Lord Sebastian Coe, who led London's bid for the 2012 Games, said it was a good decision.
"We're really happy to hand over to a country that put young people at the heart of its bid, and to a continent that has never before hosted the Games," he said.
"We're really happy to hand over to a country that put young people at the heart of its bid, and to a continent that has never before hosted the Games," he said.
"I would not have wanted to vote myself today because it really was a tough call."
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