Earlier this month, when the International Olympic Committee was about to announce the location of the 2016 Summer Games, a very famous man flew to Denmark to help his country’s bid.  This man, a descendant of slaves and a national icon, made an impassioned last-minute plea.  The IOC heard him out, and agreed.  They awarded the games to Rio de Janeiro and the man – Edison Arantes do Nascimento – broke down in joyful tears.

If you want a quick primer on the distribution of world power, just check out a list of previous Olympic venues.  The United States has hosted 8 games, more than any other nation, and North America has hosted 12 games in all.  Europe has hosted 30 games in over a dozen of its nations.  Japan has hosted 3 times.  Australia, essentially an outpost of the United Kingdom, has hosted 2.  And China and Korea have each hosted once.  No nation from either South America or Africa has ever hosted an Olympiad.

Until now.  When the announcement that Rio would host was made, over 50,000 residents – known as cariocas – spilled out into the streets.  They unveiled a banner half the size of a football field that read, “Rio Loves You.”  And what a party it promises to be: the Olympics in “the Marvelous City,” the home of Carnival!  Opening and closing ceremonies and the finals of “the beautiful game” will take place at the Estádio do Maracanã.  There will be volleyball, sailing, and other water sports along Copacabana Beach.  Biking and running in the shadow of Christ the Redeemer.  Even the marathon will be festive, ending at a stadium called “the Sambadrome.”  Opa, caipirinhas all around!

And the whole thing will be kicked off by Edison Arantes do Nascimento, who will almost certainly be chosen to light the Olympic torch.  You may know him better as Pele, the greatest athlete of the past century.  On that day in 2016, when he performs the final act in his miraculous sporting career, Pele will be 75 years old.