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The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro will host the next international celebration of World Youth Day, which will take place in 2013.



The announcement was confirmed by Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, who said the date for the event was set a year early in order to avoid logistical conflicts with the World Cup, which Brazil will host in 2014.

Traditionally, Pope Benedict would have announced the site of the 2013 World Youth Day while in Madrid this week, however the confirmation was likely made early due to comments by Brazilian officials that the city had been chosen.



The governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, and the city's mayor, Eduardo Pase are planning to be in Madrid this week to attend the youth event.



Some 14,000 young people from Brazil will also attend World Youth Day 2011.