MEXICO CITY -- After promoting itself as a terrorism-free city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was selected to serve as host for the 2007 Pan American Games on Saturday, beating out San Antonio.

"Obviously, Texas is disappointed,'' Gov. Rick Perry said.

Brazilian representatives cheered, slapped each other on the back and danced to the song "The Girl From Ipanema.''

"For the United States, this would have been just another event,'' said Marcelo Itajiba, head of Rio's federal police. "For Brazil, this is the event.''

In an hourlong presentation to the Pan American Sports Organization that included a dazzling light show and a mountain of confetti that fell from the ceiling, San Antonio officials championed their city's low crime rate.

San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson ushered in the city's presentation, saying athletes at the Pan Am Games would enjoy "the same family, same attitude that I've enjoyed during all my years in San Antonio.''

During a presentation that was light on special effects but heavy on samba music, Rio countered that athletes would not have to worry about terrorist attacks in their city.

"We have no problems with terrorism or terrorist groups,'' said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of Brazil's Olympic Committee.

Another of San Antonio's selling points was that it had virtually all the needed venues already built. Supporters also touted the city as a prime place to stage a major international athletic event, since it was the site of a U.S. Olympic Festival in 1993 and the men's college basketball Final Four in 1998.

Brazil acknowledged that it would have to build seven of the 23 facilities required for the monthlong games.

The Pan Am Sports Organization, made up of officials from 42 countries, had concerns about the two cities' ability to organize the games, particularly since the 2003 host, the Dominican Republic, is lagging behind schedule.

Rio and San Antonio said they had the necessary funds to stage the games. San Antonio committed $5.5 million, while Rio, with much more building to do, pledged to spend $100 million -- enough to build a new parkway, an athletes' village and seven new buildings.

San Antonio officials complained that Rio's bid was "government-sponsored.''

"That's not how we do things in the United States,'' said David Schmidt, the San Antonio delegation's managing chairman. "We had the support of our government and leaders, but they don't write checks.''

Brazil is hoping that a successful Pan Am Games will make the city an attractive candidate for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

San Antonio, meanwhile, had been trying for 15 years to land the Pan Ams.

Perry had stressed that San Antonio was a bilingual city where many city officials and residents spoke both English and Spanish. He promised his state would host the games "Texas-style, and with a whole lot of Texas pride.''

"In keeping with Texas tradition we will do it bigger and better than ever before,'' he said.

Perry flew to Mexico City to lobby on San Antonio's behalf, despite a rift between the United States and Mexican President Vicente Fox. Last week, Fox canceled a trip to Texas to protest the state's decision to execute a man Mexico claimed as its own.

On Friday, Perry said he advised Fox he was coming to Mexico, but that Fox wasn't able to meet with him. He said he didn't think Fox's rejection had anything to do with the execution.