Tokyo Loses Bid for 2016 Olympics

Tokyo and Chicago were knocked out of the contention to host 2016 Olympics. Surprising, Chicago lost on the first round even though U.S. President Obama and First Lady along with Queen of Talk Show host, Oprah, pitched for Chicago. Rio de Janerio and Madrid remain in contention. The winner will be announced later today for the right to host 2016 Olympics.

In an article "Foreign Policy: Why Brazil Won The 2016 Olympics"

Expressed that Brazil certainly has a lot more to boast about.
Aside from its beautiful beaches, world-famous carnival, crowd-drawing soccer, and a renowned HIV/AIDS program, Brazil is the next host of the summer Olympic Games as declared by the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen — beating out Tokyo, Madrid, and even an Obama-backed Chicago bid. This is indeed a momentous event — and one that comes after several years of strategy, planning, and arduous efforts by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Now, Lula will be rewarded with yet another venue to showcase Brazil and to signal the country's growing international influence.

In short, the Olympic Games will reaffirm the government's international reputation as a leader among emerging nations.

For those familiar with Brazil's athletic history, today's decision seems only natural. The country breathes sports — everything from NASCAR racing, to volleyball, to soccer, to martial arts. And more importantly, perhaps, to the International Olympic Committee, the country has a long history of hosting international sporting events. In 1963, for example, Brazil hosted the Fourth Pan American games in Sao Paulo, drawing in thousands of competitors and spectators. The Pan American Games were once again hosted in 2007 in Rio, providing even more recent evidence of Brazil's commitment and ability to host international games. Read more why Brazil won.