Hundreds of people gather at Copacabana beach ahead of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote to determine the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics, on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro October 2, 2009.

Residents of South America’s largest country often claim that God is Brazilian and, if you believe the propaganda, the 2016 Rio Olympics will be nothing short of heavenly.The city’s Olympic bid document is riddled with superlatives – “vibrant” neighbourhoods, “bucolic” suburbs, “breathtaking” scenery and “legendary” sports stadiums – and yesterday thousands upon thousands of elated locals clad in Brazil’s green and yellow colours crowded on to Copacabana beach to celebrate what local authorities were calling a historic victory.

More on this and the “master plan” video after the jump

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Brazil’s President Lula and soccer legend Pele pose with supporters of the Rio 2016 Olympic bid shortly after Lula’s arrival in Copenhagen.  Rio’s main competitor for the games is Chicago. 

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What does that look like to you?

from Reuters:

Organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver are taking the mellow approach to suggestions that their planned Olympic torch looks like a marijuana cigarette.

“We’re not worried about it at all,” Dave Cobb, the executive vice-president of the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) told reporters on Wednesday, in response to a newspaper article that dubbed the torch “The Olympic Toke.” (more…)

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has come out publicly about the Executive Committee’s desire to lower the current Under - 23 age limit with 3 overage players to an Under - 21 Tournament.

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It’s starting to look like there could be a couple of major changes ahead of the next Olympics after UEFA declared it’s support of FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s comments regarding over-age players and a possible lowering of the current U-23 age limit.

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Here is the picture of Mike Phelps hittin’ it that showed up over the weekend in the UK Tabloid News of the World.  Apparently he was visiting a shorty who goes to the University of South Carolina, and he decided to roll to a house party. I must say, he has pretty good technique and I’m sure that with all that time in the pool, this cat has a lung capacity that mortals can only dream about. Relaxed hold, standing up, look at his neck … this cat is no rook. He’s going to town here. At least now we know what is up with his daily 50k caloric intake. Where is the picture of the damage he did at the Taco Bell drive through about 45m after this picture was taken?He probably set another world record. The biggest receipt I’ve ever seen at Taco Bell was like $47. I’m so curious

Michael Phelps is sorry

Don’t you just love how Messi’s casually swinging around his 2008 Olympic Gold Medal as he’s showing it off to the Spanish Press like it’s some old key ring.

Guess after all the drama that was surrounding Messi’s departure for the games, no one is going to hold it against him now that he’s got the Gold in his pocket.