Who's saying what about the vote on the hosts of the 2016 Olympic Games: “Today Rio and Brazil presented their case to the IOC and they said an overwhelming ‘yes'. It's an historic day in the life of Brazil.” - Brazilian president Luiz Inacio ‘Lula' da Silva after Rio won the vote to host the 2016 Olympics. “I want to congratulate Rio and the nation of Brazil. I think this is a truly historic event as these will be the first Olympics ever to be held in South America. Although I wish that we had come back with better news from Copenhagen, I could not be prouder of my home town of Chicago.” - US President Barack Obama who flew to Copenhagen to lobby for Chicago. “We fought a good fight and I am very proud of the team and the campaign. I have no idea why we went out so early. The IOC members will have to ask themselves that question.” - Chicago bid chief Pat Ryan after the American city was eliminated in the first round. “It is not an anti-America thing or an anti-Obama thing. It's a sports competition, not true politics.” – Canadian IOC member Dick Pound. “I'm a very emotional guy and I have been crying ever since I heard the result. This is a great moment not only for Brazil but for South America. In terms of how it compares to a World Cup this is like another goal.” - Brazilian football legend Pele “The president made a very strong appeal, and it didn't work out. I don't view this as a repudiation of the President or the First Lady; there are politics everywhere and there are politics inside that room.” - President Obama's senior political advisor David Axelrod after Chicago's defeat. “I have a very sad reaction. That's the way it has got to be. It was a very good bid.” - Madrid bid chief Mercedes Coghen. “It was really disappointing for us and for the children but this is not the end. We want to carry this on to the next chance.” - Japan's Olympic women's marathon medallist Yuko Arimori pledging a new Tokyo bid for the 2020 Olympics. “We should keep fighting. I'm sure we will win the next time because Madrid deserves it.” - Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal “We're really pleased to be handing over to a city that put children at the forefront of its bid and to a continent that has never before hosted the Games. I would not have wanted to vote myself today because it really was a tough call.” – Two-time Olympic gold medalist Sebastian Coe.
