COPENHAGEN — The race for the 2016 Olympics has came down to Rio de Janeiro and Madrid, with the International Olympic Committee eliminating Chicago in a stunning first round of voting this morning.

Tokyo was knocked out in the second round.

That left just Rio and Madrid still in the mix. The IOC voted again to separate the two and elect a winner, which will be announced by IOC President Jacques Rogge later today.

Madrid's surprising success in reaching the final round came after former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch made an unusual appeal for the Spanish capital, reminding the IOC members as he asked for their vote that, at age 89, "I am very near the end of my time."