The Pan American Games bring together athletes from the countries of the Americas in a festival of sport and international friendship. The Games are held every four years in the year preceding the Olympic Games. The first Pan American Games took place in 1951 at Buenos Aires, Argentina, but they originated more than two decades earlier. At the Olympic Congress coinciding with the 1924 Olympic Games at Paris, France, the International Olympic Committee members from Cuba, Guatemala and Mexico proposed the establishment of regional games for the countries of Central America. These games became reality two years later when Mexico City hosted the first Central American Games

A second Pan American Sports Congress met at the 1948 London Olympic Games where plans were revived. The first Pan American Games opened on February 25, 1951, at Buenos Aires. More than 2,500 athletes from 22 countries participated.

The organization governing the Games was renamed, in 1955, as the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). Currently, 42 nations of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean comprise the organization. The official languages are Spanish and English. PASO has headquarters in Mexico City and is presided over by Mario Vasquez Raña of Mexico, who also is a member of the International Olympic Committee.

"America, Espirito, Sport, Fraternité" incorporates four of the languages in common use in the Americas: Spanish, Portuguese, English and French. The phrase loosely translates to English as "The American spirit of friendship through sports."

The PASO emblem is a torch superimposed over five concentric circles of the colors green, yellow, white, red and blue. At least one of these colors appears on every national flag of the Americas.

ORGANIZATION

     PASO is modeled closely on the IOC.  The President, Vice-Presidents, and Executive Board are elected for 4 year terms.  New members are elected by the members of PASO as delegates to their respective countries, rather than from their countries.

     A number of commissions have been created by PASO to assist it in specialized areas such as drug testing and eligibility among others.

Pan American Games Host Cities

1951 – Buenos Aries, Argentina

1955 – Mexico City, Mexico

1959 – Chicago, IL, USA

1963 – Sao Paulo, Brazil

1967 – Winnipeg, Canada

1971 – Cali, Columbia

1975 – Mexico City, Mexico

1979 – San Juan, Puerto Rico (first year Roller Sports participated)

1983 – Caracas, Venezuela

1987 – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

1991 – Havana, Cuba

1995 – Mar del Plata, Buenos Aries, Parana, Argentina

1999 – Winnipeg, Canada

2003 – Dominican Republic

2007 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Pan-American Games Websites and related organizations:

http://www.cob.org.br/pan2007/ingles/sobre_comite.asp  2007 Rio de Janeiro 

http://panamgames2003.com/ 2003 Dominican Republic

http://www.panamericanrollers.com/ Pan American Confederation of Roller Sports