South America Deserves First Games in 2016

`It is time to make the Olympics democratic, developing countries have the right to host the Games,` Lula told reporters.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva touted his country's bid to host the 2016 Olympics, saying on Friday the growing economic power of developing nations needed to be replicated in sport.

The burly former metal worker, in London for a meeting of G20 leaders, made a trip to the 2012 Olympic site as he showcased Rio de Janeiro's bid to become the first South American city to host the Games.

"It is time to make the Olympics democratic, developing countries have the right to host the Games," Lula told reporters after touring the massive building site in East London that will host the 2012 event.

"We are competing for the Summer Olympics. South America has the right to hold the Games."

Lula has often asked for more clout for developing countries and said the development of the G20, which includes leading emerging nations, as the forum to resolve the global financial crisis shows this.

He added that apart from the 1968 Mexico Games and the Beijing Games last year the Olympics have always been hosted by developed countries, an argument he had made to boost support for Rio in G20 meetings this week.

Rio is competing against Tokyo, Chicago and Madrid to host the 2016 Olympics. The winner will be picked by the International Olympic Committee in Copenhagen on Oct. 2.

With the financial crisis taking its toll on the world economy, Lula said Brazil's federal government would guarantee against any losses from holding the Games.

"We will take the financial responsibility," he said.

SANDY BEACHES

Lula, accompanied by the governor of Rio state and the city's mayor, said Rio with its verdant hills and sandy beaches was "blessed with God-given beauty" that would make it an attractive site for the Olympics.

Rio Governor Sergio Cabral said the fact Brazil will host soccer's World Cup in 2014 should help the Olympic bid as they would benefit from the same installations.

The city of Rio has previously hosted major events such as the 2007 Pan American Games and a 1992 global environmental conference, Cabral said.

The annual Carnival in Rio and its massive New Year parties usually attended by one million people on Copacabana beach makes it well-equipped to handle big events, the governor added.

However, a major drawback could be the drug-related gang violence in many of its shanty town 'favelas' that has in the past prompted the government to put troops on the streets.

Cabral said crime had fallen sharply in recent years as authorities stepped up efforts to stop the drug trade in the favelas.

"Munich (in 1972) didn't have crime like in Rio but it did have terrorism," said Lula.