The picture-postcard tourist mecca of Rio de Janeiro beat industrial powerhouse Sao Paulo on Monday to become Brazil's candidate to host the 2012 Olympics.

Rio, which made a failed bid to host the 2004 Olympics, will now be making a new jab at bringing the summer Games to South America for the first time.

Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) president Carlos Nuzman said Rio had received 23 votes, against 10 for Sao Paulo and one abstention in a vote made by the organisation's general assembly.

Brazil's former capital joins Havana, Istanbul, Leipzig, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris as candidates to host the 2012 event. The winner of will be chosen by the International Olympic Committee in 2005.

COB's general assembly voted in Rio's favour after a long and bitter battle with South America's biggest city, which had been banking on its developed infra-structure.

Rio mayor Cesar Maia added insult to the 11-million strong megapolis' injury: "May the ugly ones excuse me, but beauty is fundamental," he said after the decision was announced.

Known in Brazil as the Marvellous City for its natural beauty that includes sandy beaches, green mountains and breathtaking vistas, Rio has until July 15 to formally declare its bid to the International Olympic Committee.

Despite its fame for such attractions as the lavish annual Carnival parades that draw hordes of tourists, Rio is also notorious for its rampant crime and utter misery in teeming shanty-towns. Murder rates in the city are among the highest in the world.

NO HITCH

But crime experts said massive security plans that are implemented for Olympics in any city should prevent serious crime or violence. Recent high-profile events in Rio, which has a population of six million, have gone without a hitch so far, they noted.

Maia dismissed fears about crime, saying that the Olympic village and a number of venues would all be concentrated in a small area.

"It will be safer than in any other place in the world," he said.

Rio is already investing heavily in sports venues for the 2007 Pan-American Games, which would be used in the Olympics. The estimated size of required investment for the 2012 Games has been put at about $3 billion.

"We have learned from childish errors that we committed at our first candidacy (for 2004 Olympics)... Now we are going to make much more confident steps with the Pan-American," Maia said.

Rio's famous Maracana stadium, built for the 1950 World Cup, should be used for some Olympic events, including soccer. 

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