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The Pan American games are a continental version of the Olympic
Games which includes the Olympic Program sports and others that are
not part of the Olympics. Conducted every four years, always one
year before the Olympic Games, the first Pan American Games were
held in 1951, in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. However, its
origin dates back to 1932, in the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Inspired by the holding of the first Central American Games six
years earlier, the Latin American representatives of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) proposed the creation of a
competition that would include all the countries in the Americas,
for the purpose of strengthening sport activities in the region.
The idea resulted in the first Pan American Sports Congress, held in
Buenos Aires in 1940. In principle the Congress determined that the
inaugural games would be held in 1942 in the Argentine capital -
plans that were postponed due to World War II.
At the end of the conflict, a second Pan American Sports Congress in
London during the 1948 Olympic Games, confirmed Buenos Aires as the
host for the first Pan American Games, finally scheduled for 1951.
Competitions started on February 25th and included 2,513 athletes
from 21 countries, with 18 sports.
Over more than 50 years, the Pan American Games never failed to
occur, and have been held in cities in every corner of the
continent.
From the extreme north, like Winnipeg (Canada), host of two events -
1967 and 1999 - to the south, like Mar del Plata (Argentina) which
hosted the 1995 Games. The Pan American Games also visited Mexico
City (Mexico), Chicago (USA), Cali (Colombia), San Juan
(Puerto Rico), Caracas (Venezuela), Indianapolis (USA), Havana
(Cuba) and Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).
In addition, the Games have already been to Brazil. In 1963, São
Paulo was the host to the fourth edition of the event. The Games
were a success, mobilizing the entire city to the point where 40
thousand people attended the Opening Ceremony held at the Pacaembu
Stadium.
The Pan American Games have been growing in size and importance with
as edition of the event occurs. In less than half a century, the
event has doubled in number of countries, athletes, and sports,
becoming one of the main events in the world's sports calendar. |
