At a meeting also attended by the Jose Manuel Durão Barroso, the President of the European Union, and Sérgio Cabral, the Governor of Rio, they discussed the country's bid to host the 2016 Olympics.

 

During the meeting, Cabral declared that “it is South America ’s turn to host the Games,” in a reference to the fact that the continent has never before staged the event.

 

Afterwards, Sarkozy, accompanied on his visit to Rio by his wife, Carla Bruni, enjoyed a typical carioca evening.

 

At Flamengo Park , which will host various open-air sports events if Rio is chosen to host the 2016 Olympics, the couple visited the Museum of Modern Art , and Sarkozy and his wife attended a show featuring Gilberto Gil and Charles Aznavour.

 

During Sarkozy's visit, Brazil also signed contracts worth $12 billion (£8.1 billion) to buy 50 military transport helicopters and five submarines from France.

 

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Lula.

 

Sarkozy said: "Today, France is closer to Brazil, Brazil is closer to France."

 

Rio is one of four cities bidding to host the 2016 Olympics.

 

The others are Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo.

 

The International Olympic Committee will announce its decision at its Session in Copenhagen on October 2, 2009.