Canadian Olympic Committee Congratulates Rio de Janeiro - Host City for the
2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

TORONTO , Oct. 2 /CNW/ - The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) congratulates the Rio de Janeiro Bid Committee after being elected as the host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016. This marks the first time ever an Olympic Games will be held in South America .

The election took place as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) opened its 121st Session in Copenhagen , Denmark . Rio de Janeiro won its bid to host the 2016 Games over three other candidate cities - Chicago , Madrid and Tokyo . In the final round of voting, Rio de Janeiro received 66 votes compared to Madrid's 32. Chicago was eliminated in the first round of voting, followed by Tokyo in the second round.

"The COC would like to extend its sincere congratulations to the Rio de Janeiro Bid Committee," said Chris Rudge , COC CEO and Secretary General. "It was quite exciting watching Jacques Rogge open the envelope, having gone through this six years ago in Prague with the Vancouver bid. I certainly was empathetic with the feelings of the people in the room.

"Rio was a wonderful host two years ago for the Pan Am Games and I believe hosting these Games in Brazil is a wonderful step forward for sport and the Olympic Movement."

The COC would also like to extend a personal note of congratulations to former employee Mario Cilenti , who is now International Relations Director with the Rio de Janeiro Bid Committee. More information on the 2016 Games Bid can be found at www.rio2016.org or by visiting the IOC's revamped website, www.olympic.org.

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) is a national, private, not-for-profit organization committed to sport excellence. It is responsible for all aspects of Canada's involvement in the Olympic Movement, including Canada's participation in the Olympic and Pan American Games and a wide variety of programs that promote the Olympic Movement in Canada through cultural and educational means. For news and information, visit the COC website at www.olympic.ca and find the team on both Facebook (Canadian Olympic Team) and Twitter (CDNOlympicTeam).

For further information: Isabelle Hodge, Manager, media relations, Canadian Olympic Committee, [email protected], [phone]