Bolivarian Games

The Bolivarian Games (Spanish: Juegos Bolivarianos, full name Juegos Deportivos Bolivarianos) are a regional multi-sport event held in honor of Simón Bolívar, and organized by the Bolivarian Sports Organization (Organización Deportiva Bolivariana, ODEBO). The event is open to athletes from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. In 2010, the ODEBO decided to include Chile as the seventh member of ODEBO.^[1] Except Panama, all other participating countries are Andean states.

Bolivarian Games

Type	Multi-sport event
Organising body	ODEBO
Founded	1938; 85 years ago (1938)
Region	South America (Andean states)
Nations	11 (2022)
Related	Pan American Games
Website	odebo.org/juegos

Inauguration of the XVII Games in 2013
Games
1938 1947–48 1951 1961 1965 1970 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2017 2022

History

 

Games were named after Venezuelan military and political leader Simón Bolívar

The first Games were held in 1938 in Bogotá, Colombia for the city's 400th anniversary. They have since been held irregularly, but every four years since 1973, with the most recent edition in Valledupar, Colombia in 2022. Inspired by the events of 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin,^[2] Alberto Nariño Cheyne was the key designer of the idea of a Games to foster unity among the Bolivarian countries through the means of sport.^[3]

Following the first Games, the Bolivarian Sports Organization was formed as a sub-organisation of the Pan American Sports Organization by six founding members from the respective countries – Jorge Rodríguez Hurtado (Bolivia), Alberto Nariño Cheyne (Colombia), Galo Plaza Lasso (Ecuador), Luis Saavedra (Panama), Alfredo Hohagen Diez Canseco (Peru) and Julio Bustamante (Venezuela).^[2]

In terms of medals, Peru was dominant in the early years of the competition but Venezuela has consistently been the most successful country since the 1960s.

A detailed history of the early editions of the Bolivarian Games between 1938 and 1989 was published in a book written (in Spanish) by José Gamarra Zorrilla, former president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee, and first president (1976-1982) of ODESUR.^[4]

Summary

Games

Year	Ed.	Host city	Host country ^[n 1]	Opened by	Period	Nat.	Athl.	Winner
1938	I	Bogotá	Colombia	Alfonso López Pumarejo	6–22 Aug	6		Peru
1948	II	Lima	Peru	José Luís Bustamante y Rivero	25 Dec – 8 Jan	6		Peru
1951	III	Caracas	Venezuela	Germán Suárez Flamerich	5–21 Dec	6		Peru
1961	IV	Barranquilla	Colombia	Alberto Lleras Camargo	3–16 Dec	5		Venezuela
1965	V	Quito	Ecuador	Ramón Castro Jijón	20 Nov – 6 Dec	6		Venezuela
1970	VI	Maracaibo	Venezuela	Rafael Caldera	23 Aug – 6 Sep	6		Venezuela
1973	VII	Panama City	Panama	Demetrio Basilio Lakas	17 Feb – 3 Mar	5		Venezuela
1977	VIII	La Paz	Bolivia	Hugo Banzer	15–29 Oct	6		Venezuela
1981	VIX	Barquisimeto	Venezuela	Luís Herrera Campins	4–14 Dec	6		Venezuela
1985	X	Cuenca	Ecuador	León Febres Cordero	9–18 Nov	6		Venezuela
1989	XI	Maracaibo	Venezuela	Jaime Lusinchi	14–25 Jan	6		Venezuela
1993	XII	Cochabamba	Bolivia	Jaime Paz Zamora	24 Apr – 2 May	6		Venezuela
1997	XIII	Arequipa	Peru	Alberto Fujimori	17–26 Oct	6		Venezuela
2001	XIV	Ambato	Ecuador	Roberto Hanze	7–16 Sep	6		Venezuela
2005	XV	Armenia and Pereira	Colombia	Álvaro Uribe	12–21 Aug	6		Venezuela
2009	XVI	Sucre	Bolivia	Evo Morales	15–26 Nov	6	435	Venezuela
2013	XVII	Trujillo^[5]	Peru	Ollanta Humala	16–30 Nov	11	562	Colombia
2017	XVIII	Santa Marta	Colombia	Clara Luz Roldán	11–25 Nov	11	469	Colombia
2022	XIX	Valledupar			24 Jun – 5 July	11	389	Colombia
2024	XX	Ayacucho	Peru	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA
2025	XXI	Guayaquil	Ecuador	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA

Beach Games

Year	Games	Host City	Host Country	Opened by	Dates	Nations	Events	Top medalling nation
2012	I	Lima	Peru		1–11 November	10	64	Peru
2014	II	Huanchaco^[6]	Peru		3–12 December	11	71	Venezuela
2016	III	Iquique^[7]	Chile		24 November - 3 December	11	81	Chile
2019	IV	Vargas	Venezuela	Cancelled

Notes

1. As recognized by the IOC.

Youth Games

Year	Games	Host City	Host Country	Opened by	Dates	Nations	Events	Top medalling nation
2023	I	Sucre^[8]	Bolivia	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA

Sports

The following table was compiled based on information extracted from a variety of sources.^{[4][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]} It should be considered as incomplete.

Disciplines from the same sport are grouped under the same color:

  Aquatics –   Cycling –   Football –   Gymnastics –   Underwater sports –   Volleyball -   Basketball

Sport (Discipline)		Body		38	47	51	61	65	70	73	77	81	85	89	93	97	01	05	09	13	17	22
		World	South America
Diving		FINA	ASUA	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X				X		X	X
Open water swimming																				X	X	X
Swimming				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Synchronized swimming														X						X	X	X
Water polo				X	X	X				X	X									X	X	X
Archery		FITA	AAF														X	X	X	X	X	X
Athletics		IAAF	CONSUDATLE	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Badminton		BWF	BPA																X	X	X	X
Baseball		IBAF	COPABE	X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X			X		X	X	X	X
Basketball		FIBA	FIBA Americas	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
3x3 Basketball																						X
Basque Pelota/ Pelota Nacional		FIPV		X		X		X												X
Billiards		CMSB	CPB		X	X											X	X	X	X
Bodybuilding		IFBB	IFBBSud America														X
Bola Criollas		FIB				X
Bowling		FIQ	PABCON							X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Boxing		AIBA	AMBC	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Equestrianism														X
Canoeing		ICF	COPAC														X	X	X	X	X	X
Chess		FIDE	CCA	X	X	X		X					X				X			X
Climbing		IFSC														X	X			X
Coleo						X
BMX racing		UCI	COPACI															X	X	X	X	X
Mountain biking																		X	X	X	X	X
Road cycling				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Track cycling				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Equestrian		FEI	PAEC	X	X	X		X	X		X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Fencing		FIE	CPE	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Field hockey		FIH	PAHF																	X
Football		FIFA	CONMEBOL	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Futsal																			X	X	X	X
Golf		IGF	FSG	X	X	X		X												X	X	X
Artistic gymnastics		FIG	CONSUGI					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Rhythmic gymnastics																X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Trampoline																					X	X
Handball		IHF	SCAHC																	X	X	X
Judo		IJF	PJC					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Karate		WKF	PKF											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Modern pentathlon		UIPM				X
Racquetball		IRF	PARC												X		X	X	X	X	X
Roller speed skating		FIRS	CPRS															X		X	X
Rowing		FISA															X		X	X	X	X
Rugby		IRB	CONSUR																	X	X	X
Sailing		ISAF	SASC					X					X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X
Shooting		ISSF	CAT	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Softball		ISF	CONPASA						X	X		X		X		X	X		X	X	X	X
Squash		WSF	FPS														X	X	X	X	X	X
Surfing		ISA	APAS														X		X	X
Table tennis		ITTF	LATTU			X		X				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Taekwondo		WTF	PATU										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Tennis		ITF	COSAT	X	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Triathlon		ITU	PATCO														X	X	X	X	X	X
Finswimming		CMAS																		X
Freediving																				X
Spearfishing																				X
Beach volleyball		FIVB	CSV														X	X	X		X	X
Volleyball				X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Water skiing		IWWF	IWWF Pan Am															X		X	X	X
Weightlifting		IWF	PAWC	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Wrestling		UWW	CPLA	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Wushu		IWUF	PAWF																	X
Total sports^[9]				16	15	16	12	20	17	16	16	19	18	19	18	21	30	28	30	44	45	43

All-time medal count

The total medal count for all the Games until 2022 is tabulated below. This table is sorted by the number of gold medals won by each country. The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next, and then the number of bronze medals. Chile, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Paraguay started competing since the 2013 Bolivarian Games.

As of 2022:

Bolivarian Games Medal Count
Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Venezuela	1861	1555	1188	4604
2	Colombia	1562	1381	1146	4089
3	Peru	621	715	935	2271
4	Ecuador	442	699	1048	2189
5	Panama	196	198	335	729
6	Chile	124	146	221	491
7	Bolivia	109	193	421	723
8	Dominican Republic	58	57	122	237
9	Guatemala	45	63	88	196
10	Paraguay	23	32	36	91
11	El Salvador	13	20	22	55
Total		5054	5059	5562	15675

All time records

• Colombia holds the record for the highest number of gold medals won for a country in a single edition, obtaining 213 gold medals at the 2017 Bolivarian Games in Santa Marta as the host nation.^[32]
• Colombia holds the record for the biggest lead of gold medals to second place, obtaining a margin of 119 gold medals over Venezuela in Santa Marta 2017.^[33]
• Colombia holds the record for the biggest lead of total medals to second place, 168 medals more than Venezuela in 2017.^[34]
• Venezuela holds the record for the highest number of total medals obtained in a single edition with 476 in the 2009 Bolivarian Games in Sucre.^[35]

All-time medal count (Beach Games)

As 2016

Bolivarian Games Medal Count
Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Venezuela	58	50	46	154
2	Chile	48	46	38	132
3	Peru	48	35	47	130
4	Colombia	30	24	29	83
5	Ecuador	19	40	37	96
6	Guatemala	6	3	6	15
7	Paraguay	3	9	9	21
8	El Salvador	3	6	5	14
9	Dominican Republic	1	3	6	10
10	Panama	0	0	2	2
11	Bolivia	0	0	0	0
Total		216	216	215	647

See also

• Pan American Games
• Parapan American Games
• Central American and Caribbean Games
• Central American Games
• South American Games

References

1. . odebolivariana.org (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
2. Creacion July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish). Juegos Bolivarianos. Retrieved on 2009-11-27.
3. Historia de los Juegos Deportivos Bolivarianos. EABolivia (2009-11-13). Retrieved on 2009-11-27.
4. Gamarra Zorrilla, José, Bolivia Olímpica Capítulos VI al VIII (PDF) (in Spanish), ANDES Academia del Conocimiento y el Desarrollo "Fernando Diez de Medina", retrieved June 28, 2012
5. CPNRadio (December 23, 2010). Trujillo seriá la sede de los juegos Bolivarianos 2013 "Trujillo seriá la sede de los Juegos Bolivarianos 2013" (in Spanish). {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
6. El Telégrafo (July 22, 2013). [Huanchaco selected as host city for the 2nd Bolivarian Beach Games] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
7. . ODEBA. 7 March 2015. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
8. "COB se reúne con el Alcalde de Sucre con miras a los Bolivarianos 2020". www.comiteolimpicoboliviano.org.bo (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 July 2018.
9. (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Peruano, archived from the original on August 2, 2012, retrieved June 28, 2012
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12. (PDF) (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano, archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2012, retrieved June 28, 2012
13. (PDF) (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano, archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2012, retrieved June 28, 2012
14. Quesada F., Estewil (April 24, 1993), Comienza el Ciclo Olímpico (in Spanish), El Tiempo, Bogotá, Colombia, retrieved June 30, 2012
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17. HOY SE INAUGURAN LOS JUEGOS BOLIVARIANOS DE AMBATO (in Spanish), Explored, Quito, Ecuador, September 7, 2001, archived from the original on January 6, 2013, retrieved June 30, 2012
18. Pierrend, José Luis; Cornejo, Alfonzo (September 3, 2005), Bolivarian Games: Soccer Tournaments, RSSSF -- The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation, retrieved June 30, 2012
19. HISTORIA DEL BOXEO EN COLOMBIA (in Spanish), boxeodecolombia, retrieved June 30, 2012
20. (PDF) (in Spanish), Federación Venezolana de Tiro, archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2010, retrieved June 30, 2012
21. Participantes en Ciclos Olímpicos (in Spanish), Federación Peruana de Lucha Amateur, September 21, 2010, retrieved June 30, 2012
22. Se inician hoy los Juegos Bolivarianos (in Spanish), La Prensa, Panamá, September 7, 2001, archived from the original on January 31, 2013, retrieved June 30, 2012
23. (in Spanish), Diario HOY, Quito, Ecuador, archived from the original on July 7, 2012, retrieved June 30, 2012
24. (in Spanish), archived from the original on July 22, 2012, retrieved June 30, 2012
25. CARACAS EN RETROSPECTIVA - JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS 1951 (in Spanish), September 1, 2012, retrieved October 23, 2012
26. ECUADOR SE CLASIFICO EN SEGUNDO TERMINO (in Spanish), El Tiempo, August 23, 1938, pp. 4, 7 (original page no.: 6, 13), retrieved October 24, 2012
27. RESULTADOS GENERALES DE LOS JUEGOS BOLIVARIANOS (in Spanish), El Tiempo, August 23, 1938, pp. 4, 5 (original page no.: 6, 7), retrieved October 24, 2012
28. Méndez, Jorge (December 29, 1947), La Ciudad de los Virreyes Está de Fiesta por los Juegos Bolivarianos - Sin complejos de inferioridad debemos ganar el béisbol - Un balance de las justas bolivarianos por Jorge Méndez, enviad especial de EL TIEMPO a Lima (in Spanish), El Tiempo, p. 7 (original page no.: 13), retrieved October 25, 2012
29. El Atletismo Llega a su Etapa Final - Triunfos de Colombia en Natación, Tiro, Ajedrez, Billar - Panamá y el Perú Acaparon las Victorias en la Pruebas de la Jornada de Atletismo (in Spanish), El Tiempo, December 11, 1951, p. 6 (original page no.: 10), retrieved October 26, 2012
30. COLOMBIA CAMPEON BOLIVARIANO DE FUTBOL - Bríllante Tríunfo de Forero en la Prueba de Fondo - Holder, de Panamá, Quebró los Records Bolivariano y Panamericano de pesas - Perú conquistó el pentathlon moderno - Lloreda ganó la prueba contra reloj - Exitos de Panamá y Venezuela en boxeo (in Spanish), El Tiempo, December 17, 1951, p. 10 (original page no.: 17), retrieved October 26, 2012
31. Quesada, Estewil (January 15, 1989), En la Inauguración de los Bolivarianos - Folclor por encima de la fantasía (in Spanish), El Tiempo, retrieved January 18, 2013
32. . Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
33. . Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
34. . Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
35. . Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-25.

External links

• Official website  
• (in Spanish)
• (in Spanish)
• (in Spanish)