Olympics: Rio's path to the 2016 Olympic Games
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Rio de Janeiro, chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games here on Friday, first entered the picture as serious contenders when they were chosen by the IOC as one of the four final bidders in June, 2008.
Brazilian Sports Minister Orlando Silva greeted the news at the time by saying Rio could guarantee the best venues, the best transportation and athletes' security.
"Our country has changed," he insisted.
Rio's bid gathered momentum and the South American city received a significant boost at the start of September when it came out out best with Chicago in the IOC's technical evaluation of the four candidate cities.
The Brazilians appeared to have an organisational advantage following the IOC evaluation commission's visits earlier in the year.
Shortcomings were nonetheless still identified in both of the favourites, notably on transportation and some of the planned venues.
In the run up to Friday's vote Rio convinced their electorate - the 100 plus IOC members - that after two failed bids in 2004 and 2012 they were at last ready to host the greatest sporting show on earth.
The tone for Rio's victory had been set back in Istanbul last year with bid president and IOC member Carlos Nuzman's bravura performance in front of the European Olympic Committee.
Cheekily choosing from US President Barack Obama's election campaign motto Nuzman said a vote for Rio was a vote for change with the first Olympics to be held in the continent.
"Rio is a passionate city of beauty, diversity and energy," said Nuzman, whose bid fended off worries over finance and crime.
He added: "The celebrations will flow out into the streets - it will be contagious.
"It will drive the continued social transformation of Rio 2016 can be an historic decision to bring change which will strengthen our Olympic movement."
Rio were helped by the enthusiastic backing of Brazilian president Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva who had travelled on fact finding missions to Beijing, host of the 2008 Games, and London, scene for the 2012 edition.
The South Americans arrived in Copenhagen this week and rolled out an eclectic array of supporters ranging from football legend Pele, bestselling novelist Paul Coelho, world Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and tennis star Gustavo Kuerten, all Rio natives.
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