The celebrations has begun in New Orleans, as the city’s Saints have won their first Super Bowl championship title, bringing joy to a city while still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Saints surprised the favored Indianapolis Colts 31 to 17 Sunday evening before a packed stadium in Miami, Florida - and an expected 100 million television viewers in the United States and millions more around the world.

President Barack Obama, a keen sports fan, hosted a Super Bowl-watching party at the White House. Asked for his analysis before play began, he said the Colts are the stronger team but that he was partial to the underdog Saints.