2016 Olympics in Rio

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The 2016 Summer Olympics were awarded Friday to Rio de Janeiro, marking the first time the Games will be contested in South America.

Rio won in a final vote against Madrid. Chicago and Tokyo, the other finalists, were eliminated in earlier votes by the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen, Denmark.

It gives Brazil two of the world's largest sporting events in a two-year span. FIFA has scheduled the 2014 World Cup for that country.

Rio's final presentation Friday to the full IOC was particularly impassioned and pointed out how important the vote was to an entire continent, as opposed to a city or country.

"When you push that button today," Rio Olympic Committee President Carlos Nuzman said, you have the chance to inspire a new continent, make Olympic history."

Chicago was considered a front-runner heading into Friday's IOC vote but, despite a high-profile support delegation that included U.S. President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and television personality Oprah Winfrey, the U.S. city was last in the first round of voting and the first finalist eliminated.