International Olympic Committee Names Rio de Janeiro As Host City For 2016 Olympic Games

Oct. 2, 2009 - Colorado Springs, Colo.

The International Olympic Committee today announced that Rio de Janeiro will play host to the 2016 Olympic Games. The Brazilian city beat out Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid for the prestigious honor, which also includes hosting the 2016 Paralympic Games. Rio's selection marks the first time the Olympic Games will take place in South America.

The U.S. men finished 8-0 to stand atop the podium on Aug. 24 in Beijing and reclaim the USA's first gold medal in a major international competition since 2000. The U.S. women in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games captured a record fourth-straight Olympic gold medal and finished with an unblemished 8-0 record on Aug. 23.

USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University) and assistants Jim Boeheim (Syracuse University), Mike D'Antoni (New York Knicks) and Nate McMillan (Portland Trail Blazers), who led the American men to the '08 Olympic gold and a three year record of 36-1 from 2006-08, will again lead the USA through 2012. Krzyzewski and staff will lead the USA in the 2010 FIBA World Championship (Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey); if necessary the 2011 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament (dates and site TBD); and, if the USA qualifies, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games (July 26-Aug. 12 in London, England).

The U.S. men have medaled in all 16 Olympics in which they have played, including 13 gold medals, one silver and two bronze, while compiling a 122-5 win-loss record for a 96.0 winning percentage. U.S. Olympic teams featuring NBA players are 35-3 in the Olympics and have captured four of five Olympic titles (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2008) since professionals were allowed to play in 1992.

Since women's basketball was officially staged at the 1976 Olympics, the Americans have collected a record six gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal, and now own a 50-3 (.943) overall record in eight Olympic appearances (the United States chose not to participate in the 1980 Olympic Games).

The USA Basketball Women's National Team will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship (Sept. 23 " Oct. 3 in the Czech Republic); if necessary the 2011 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament (dates and site TBD); and if the USA qualifies, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games (July 26-Aug. 12 in London, England).

Geno Auriemma, an assistant coach to the gold medalist 2000 U.S. Olympic Team and winner of six NCAA championships at the University of Connecticut, will serve as the head coach of the USA Basketball Women's National Team for 2009-12. Doug Bruno of DePaul University and Jennifer Gillom of the WNBA Minnesota Lynx, have been named as assistant coaches through the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

The USA men's and women's national teams will first look to capture titles in the summer of 2010 at the FIBA World Championships, with an automatic berth to the 2012 Olympic Games being awarded to the gold medalist in each tournament.