Pan American Games

Pan American Games
AbbreviationPan Am Games
First event1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Occur everyFour years
Last event2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile
Next event2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru
PurposeMulti-sport event for nations on the American continents

The Pan American Games (known colloquially as the Pan Am Games) is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas featuring summer sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The competition is held among athletes from nations of the Americas, every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games. It is the second oldest continental games in the world. The only Winter Pan American Games were held in 1990. In 2021, the Junior Pan American Games was held for the first time specifically for young athletes.[1][2][3][4] The Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) is the governing body of the Pan American Games movement, whose structure and actions are defined by the Olympic Charter.[5]

The most recent event was the XIX Pan American Games, held in Santiago from 20 October to 5 November 2023;[6] the XX Pan American Games will be held in 2027. Since the XV Pan American Games in 2007, host cities are contracted to manage both the Pan American and the Parapan American Games,[5] in which athletes with physical disabilities compete with one another. The Parapan American Games are held immediately following the Pan American Games.

The Pan American Games Movement consists of international sports federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that are recognized by PASO, and organizing committees for each specific Pan American Games. As the decision-making body, PASO is responsible for choosing the host city for each Pan American Games. The host city is responsible for organizing and funding a celebration of the Games consistent with the Olympic Charter (since PASO is affiliated with the IOC) and rules. The Pan American Games program, consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games, is determined by PASO. The celebration of the Games encompasses many rituals and symbols, such as the flag and torch, and the opening and closing ceremonies. Over 5,000 athletes compete at the Pan American Games in 36 sports and nearly 400 events. The first, second, and third-place finishers in each event receive gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively.[7]

  1. ^ "Monterrey busca sede para Juegos Panamericanos Jr" (in Spanish). Radio Centro Deportes. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  2. ^ "México muestra interés para Panamericanos Junior 2021" (in Spanish). Mexican Olympic Committee. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Panam Sports organizará Panamericanos Júnior y sopesa Panamericanos de Playa". La Vanguardia. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  4. ^ "PANAM SPORTS BEGINS IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN". Pan American Sports Organization. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Parapan American Games". Americas Paralympic committee. Archived from the original on 30 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Panamupdates". Panamupdates. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference regulation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).