Rio erupts in celebration with 2016 Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO (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.

The Cariocas danced to samba as confetti was launched into the air in front of a massive stage set up for the victory celebration.

A banner half the size of a football field -- with Rio's logo, an image of the Christ the Redeemer statue and the words "Rio Loves You" -- was displayed.

The Cariocas had been anxiously awaiting on Copacabana, taking advantage of a sunny day to watch the announcement on two big screens set up on the beach. Live concerts with popular artists had been entertaining the crowd since early in the morning, and the traditional Salgueiro samba group was keeping the party going.

Rio beat Madrid, Chicago, and Tokyo, finally winning the bid after failed attempts in 1936, 2004 and 2012 to become the first South American nation to host the games.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)