Oct 2, 2009 5:20 pm US/Central
Local Brazilians Ecstatic At Rio's 2016 Win
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Brazilians who live in Chicago celebrated after Rio de Janeiro was announced as host of the 2016 Olympics at Brasil Legal in Bucktown.
CBS
There were lots of cheers from Brazil's delegates after
Rio de Janeiro was announced as host of the 2016 Olympics. And it was party time in Rio as almost 50,000 people waved flags and danced on Copacabana beach in a huge victory celebration.
To say Brazilians who now call Chicago home are thrilled would be an understatement. CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot caught up with some of them to get their reaction.
Carnival started early at Brasil Legal, in Bucktown.
"Yes we can! Brazil! 2016! " shouted Luiz Sobrinho, a Brazilian who has called Chicago home for more than four years.
Wellisley Ramos is the owner of Brasil Legal in Bucktown. Ramos has been watching developments in his homeland via satellite non-stop.
"I wanna be there! That's my feeling. I wanna be there. It's a great feeling. You have to be a Brazilian to feel how it is," Ramos said.
Local Brazilians started coming to Ramos' store located at 2153 N. Western, specializing in everything from traditional costumes to food, as soon as Rio was announced the winner of the 2016 games.
"I wake up at 4:30 in the morning. I call all my Brazilian friends, my American friends. They say, who's going to be the winner? Chicago, because Brazil has no opportunity, no, it's going to be the rich country. But I believed inside my heart, Brazil is going to win and show the powers of the world, Brazil can do it, YES WE CAN!" said Sobrinho.
Ramos has called Chicago home for 39 years. Ramos says he was rooting for both Rio and Chicago, but says the win means so much for his homeland when it comes to the economy.
Brazil is also the site of the 2014 World Cup.
"Yeah, you see, it's going to create a lot of jobs. It's going to be good for the country. It's gonna be fantastic," Ramos said.
Maria Drell, the President of the Brazilian Cultural Center of Chicago, said the Games will not only help boost the economy, but put Brazil on the world stage. Drell says it's a challenge that Brazilians are ready for.
"Right now, Brazil is the 10th largest economy in the world, and I think financially, it's gonna have a huge impact. It's gonna create a lot of jobs," Drell said.
Cafe Laguardia, at 2111 W. Armitage Avenue, started a Carnivale-style celebration at 10 p.m., featuring traditional food, drinks and a live band playing samba music. The owner said he decided to host the event when several Brazilians living in Chicago expressed the need for a place to gather.
"I am excited," Carlos Laguardia said. "Of course, we wanted Chicago to win, but I was saying well, if Chicago doesn't win, I wanted Brazil to win."
Laguardia has Brazilian waiters and bartenders on staff. They were more than willing to share extra work to pull off the party.
"For the Brazilians, whenever we accomplish something … we are always very, very happy," bartender Tatiana Franco said.
The Consulate General of Brazil's office, Joao Almino, was also bubbling with pride today. He said the country is ready to handle the tight security required.
"In Rio, there are huge investments that are being made in many different areas," he said.
CBS 2's Pamela Jones contributed to this story.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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