It was announced Friday that the 2016 Summer Olympics will spontaneously divert the world's attention to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This will be the first time the Olympic Games have been hosted by a South American city, which comes as hard-fought justice to those Brazilians who thought it unfair that the games can be held in North America 11 times but never once to their quadrant of globe.

Rio's bid for the games beat out the three other finalists for the auspicious prize: Chicago (which lost despite an 11th hour plea from President Barack Obama), Madrid and Tokyo. I can't help but applaud the IOC's decision. It's about time this level of recognition and respect is bestowed upon Brazil. They have a healthy tourism industry (5.2 million visitors in 2008 representing 3% of their GDP), an impressive Information Technology workforce and despite being heavily industrialized, many still do consider Brazil as a third-world nation.

The city has had its share of successes, garnering attention with the success of the Pan American games in 2007. But the cleanup that most Cariocas (the familiar term for Rio locals) expected to see after those games, never happened. But of course with limelight comes criticism. Improvements are already underway for 2016, with revamps planned for both infrastructure and public relations. Rio's Olympic committee will likely not make the same mistakes twice, especially with so much as stake this time around.

Rio is a striking city, and the parties that ebb and flow in the streets are like the news that comes out of this country of nearly 200 million inhabitants: intense, colorful and filled with noise. Rio will undoubtedly show the world that it can indeed handle the scrutiny that comes to any Olympic host city. The eyes of journalists, bloggers, photographers, critics and naysayers everywhere will be focused on this city in the years to come. The sun-dabbled residents are up to the challenge. Let's just hope the athletes can handle the heat.

* photo by Phillie Casablanca