- Title: SPAIN: OLYMPICS: Disappointment in Madrid as Olympic Games go to Rio de Janeiro.
- Date: 3rd October 2009
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (SPANISH) GIRL SAYS 'AND NOT MADRID EITHER' GIRL CONSOLING HER FRIEND
- Embargoed: 18th October 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA5865821ORYYPH2W4CPA14L4CL
- Story Text: Spaniards react with disappointment and tears to the announcement that the International Olympic Committee's vote of the 2016 host city went to Rio de Janeiro.
Supporters of Madrid's 2016 Olympic bid reacted with tears and disappointment on Friday (October 2) to the news that the games went to Rio.
Madrid had been swept up in a party atmosphere, with thousands of people singing and dancing in the central Plaza del Oriente next to the Royal Palace, waving the Olympic hand, Madrid's 2016 logo as they watched the story of the voting unfold.
The four candidate cities - Tokyo, Chicago, Rio and Madrid - had been locked in a tight race until first Chicago and then Tokyo were eliminated in the first rounds of voting among International Olympic Committee members.
The announcement that Rio de Janeiro won the bid, which was delayed by several nervous seconds as IOC president Jacques Rogge struggled to open the envelope, left the crowd despondent and deflated, with many supporters in tears.
"My heart right now is empty, disappointed," said Sergio, who was crying and had to be consoled by friends. "It's too much."
Marisa had come with her sons and burst into tears when she heard the announcement.
"You should never say that something is impossible but it was very difficult, she said. "We did it well I think but it's like everything, if you don't win… It's good to participate but you have to win. I don't know. I'm very sad to tell you the truth."
The Spanish capital has never held a Summer Olympics before but was one of five shortlisted candidate cities for the 2012 Olympic Games, which were eventually awarded to London.
In the final round of voting, Rio polled 66 votes to 32 for Madrid.
In an astonishing start to the voting, Chicago, the odds-on favourite, went out in the first round, despite receiving unprecedented support from United States President Barack Obama and the first lady.
Obama had become the first sitting U.S. president to address an IOC session.
Tokyo followed them out in the second round, leaving Madrid and Rio to slug it out in the final round.
Rio will be the first South American city to host the Games. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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