Oct 1: Rio's beautiful Olympic bid

Rio de Janeiro has marketed itself as the perfect backdrop for the 2016 Olympics - which would be the first games ever held in South America - with its beautiful beaches, lush mountains and tropical weather. Its finances are in the black for the first time in years thanks to a competent state government, and the discovery of one of the world's biggest oil reserves off its coast promises a steady flow of investments and jobs in the coming years.