4 Oct 2009

Call for hard work in wake of Olympic success

9:13 am on 4 October 2009

Brazilians are being warned they'll have to sleep less and work more by their president if they're to fulfill their responsibility as the first South American country to host the Olympic Games.

Rio de Janiero was awarded the 2016 Games at the International Olympic Committee vote in Copenhagen this morning, heading off Madrid, Tokyo and favourite Chicago, which despite an appearance from US President Barack Obama was eliminated in the first round of voting.

Weeping into a handkerchief President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said after the announcement, that Brazil need the Games and that while the other cities had presented a proposal, Brazil had presented its heart.