Rio's Olympic Bid Picks Up Steam

With 3½ months to go, Rio de Janeiro has picked up significant momentum in the race for the 2016 Olympics. The Brazilian city emerged with the most buzz among the four competing cities during presentations yesterday in Switzerland to International Olympic Committee members. Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo are the other cities vying to host the Summer Games; a vote is scheduled for Oct. 2.

"The feedback that we got was very positive," Rio bid secretary general Carlos Roberto Osorio said today, adding that the push to bring the Olympics to South America appeared to strike a chord. "People really got our message. ... Rio offers something new and fresh. Of the four candidates, Rio is the novelty."
(More 2016 Olympics stories.)