Rio Erupts In Celebration With 2016 Olympics

October 02, 2009

The Associated Press

Rio fans celebrate after their city made it through another round for the nomination of host city for the 2016 Olympics at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. (AP)

Nearly 50,000 people cheered in celebration when Rio de Janeiro was announced as host of the 2016 Olympics, jumping and shouting in a Carnival-like party on Copacabana beach.

A huge roar was heard at the famed beach the moment International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said the words "Rio de Janeiro" to announce the winner in Copenhagen on Friday.

As popular President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and football great Pele celebrated in Denmark, the Cariocas, as Rio citizens are known, raised their arms to celebrate on Copacabana, frantically waving flags and hugging each other.

The party was expected to go well into the night, and officials said the crowd would easily surpass 100,000 people.

This program aired on October 2, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.