As early as 1999, Rio de Janeiro decided to bid for the 2007 Pan American Games over the 2008 Summer Olympics. Rio de Janeiro representatives cited that their beaches were superior to the San Antonio River Walk, their conditions for the games were better, and that hosting the games would mean more to Brazil than the United States. Additionally, Brazil agreed to host the 2002 South American Games in four cities, including Rio de Janeiro, after the games had to be relocated away from its initial host Medellin, Colombia, due to city violence concerns, with just three months of planning. Rio also took advantage of the world climate post the September 11 attacks in the United States, touting that they were a terrorism-free city.