Ahmadinejad congratulates Brazil on hosting Olympics

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has congratulated his Brazilian counterpart on Rio de Janeiro's winning bid to host the 2016 Olympics.

“I congratulate you, the Brazilian nation and government on Rio de Janeiro's winning bid to host the 2016 Olympic,” the Iranian president said in a letter of congratulation to his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday.

“I'm convinced that the 2016 Olympic Games will be the most memorable and remarkable event with your tremendous efforts,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Iranian chief executive expressed his wish for unity among nations, especially through sports.

After successive votes, which saw Chicago and Tokyo knocked out, the delegates to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, in early October, accepted the Brazilian city's bid to stage the 2016 Summer Games.

The IOC delegates had earlier heard the Brazilian President saying, "it was time to light the Olympic flame in a tropical country."

"Rio will deliver an unforgettable Games. You will see for yourselves the passion, the energy and the creativity of the Brazilian people," he added. "I truly believe this is Brazil's time. For the others, it would be just another Games."

"It will not be just Brazil's Games but South America's. It will serve to inspire the 180m young people on the continent. It is time to redress the balance," Lula da Silva concluded.

In a surprise development, Chicago was the first city to be eliminated from the running, despite its backing by US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.