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The Pan American Games, known as the Pan Am Games, is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas. It features thousands of athletes participate in a competitions to win different summer sports. It is held among athletes from nations of the Americas, every 4 years, the year before Summer Olympics. 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. The Pan American Sports Organization is the governing body of the Pan American Games movement, whose structure and actions are defined by the Olympic Charter.
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The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games and commonly known as Rio 2007, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in 47 disciplines. During the Games, 95 new Pan American records were set; 2,196 medals were awarded; 1,262 doping control tests were performed and about 15,000 volunteers participated in the organization of the event, which served as an Olympic qualification occasion for 13 International Federations (IFs).
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The 2011 Pan American Games, officially the XVI Pan American Games and commonly known as Guadalajara 2011, were an international multi-sport event held from October 14–30, 2011, in Guadalajara, Mexico. Some events were held in the nearby cities of Ciudad Guzmán, Puerto Vallarta, Lagos de Moreno and Tapalpa. It was the largest multi-sport event of 2011, with approximately 6,000 athletes from 42 nations participating in 36 sports. Both the Pan American and Parapan American Games were organized by the Guadalajara 2011 Organizing Committee (COPAG). The 2011 Pan American Games were the third Pan American Games hosted by Mexico and the first held in the state of Jalisco. Previously, Mexico hosted the 1955 Pan American Games and the 1975 Pan American Games, both in Mexico City. The 2011 Parapan American Games were held 20 days after the Pan American Games had ended.
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Badminton has been part of the Pan American Games since the 1995 Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Canada has dominated the badminton events since its inception. At the most recent edition of the games in 2019, in Lima, five nations won medals, with Canada taking home four of the five titles.
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Rugby sevens at the Pan American Games was held for the first time at the 2011 Pan American Games. On July 11, 2007, the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), announced that rugby sevens would be added to the list of sports that will be played at future Pan American Games, after a vote by the organization's general assembly. Women's rugby sevens was later added to the program for the 2015 Games.
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The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a continental multi-sport event held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. At the Games, 5,633 athletes selected from 42 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in 332 events in 34 sports divided into 47 disciplines. According to the Rio de Janeiro Organizing Committee for the Pan American Games, 2,196 medals were awarded for every winning athlete, including individuals from teams, during 334 awards ceremonies.
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The 2015 Pan American Games, officially the XVII Pan American Games and commonly known as the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am Games or Toronto 2015, were a major international multi-sport event celebrated in the tradition of the Pan American Games, as governed by Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). The games were held from July 10 to 26, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; preliminary rounds in certain events began on July 7, 2015. These were the third Pan American Games hosted by Canada, and the first in the province of Ontario. The Games were held at venues in Toronto and 17 other Golden Horseshoe communities. The Pan American Games and 2015 Parapan American Games were organized by the Toronto Organizing Committee for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games (TO2015).
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Men's and Women's Artistic gymnastics have been contested at the Pan American Games since the 1951 edition. In 1987, Rhythmic gymnastics was introduced. In 2007, Trampoline gymnastics was added to the program.
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Canada has competed at every edition of the Pan American Games since the second edition of the multi-sport event in 1955. As of the last Pan American Games in 2019, Canada is third on the all time medals list, only behind the United States and Cuba. Canada is also one of nine countries to have competed at the only Winter Pan American Games, and only of one two to win a medal at the games.
Volleyball competitions at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 15 to October 29 at the Pan American Volleyball Stadium (indoor) and the Pan American Beach Volleyball Stadium (beach) in Puerto Vallarta. Each indoor team was made up of twelve athletes while each beach volleyball team consisted of one pair.
Athletics competitions at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara was held from October 23 to October 30 at the newly built Telmex Athletics Stadium. The racewalking and marathon events were held on the temporary Guadalajara Circuit and Route and the Pan American Marathon circuit respectively. The sport of athletics is split into distinct sets of events: track and field events, road running events, and racewalking events.
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The 2015 Parapan American Games, officially the V Parapan American Games and commonly known as the Toronto 2015 ParaPan-Am Games, were a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, celebrated in the tradition of the Parapan American Games as governed by the Americas Paralympic Committee, held from August 7 to 15, 2015, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Marking the first Parapan American games hosted by Canada, and the second major Paralympic sports event hosted by Toronto since the 1976 Summer Paralympics, the Games were held at venues in Toronto and four other Golden Horseshoe communities. Both the Parapan American and Pan American Games were organized by the Toronto 2015 Organizing Committee (TO2015).
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The Toronto Organizing Committee for the 2015 Pan Parapan American Games (TO2015) was a non-profit organization responsible for producing and financing the 2015 Pan American Games and 2015 Parapan American Games. It was established on January 21, 2010, about three months after the 2015 games were awarded to Toronto, Ontario.
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The Pan American Games sports comprise all the sports contested in the Summer Olympic Games. In addition, traditional and popular sports throughout the Americas which are not contested at the Olympic Games are also contested such as bowling and baseball. As of 2015, the Pan American Games included 36 sports with 51 disciplines and 364 events. The number and kinds of events may change slightly from one Pan American Games to another.
The women's 4 x 100 metres relay competition of the athletics events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on the 28th October at the Telmex Athletics Stadium. The defending Pan American Games champion were Sheri-Ann Brooks, Tracy-Ann Rowe, Aleen Bailey and Peta-Gaye Gayle of Jamaica.
The women's 4 × 400 metres relay competition of the athletics events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on the 28th October at the Telmex Athletics Stadium. The defending Pan American Games champion were Aymée Martínez, Daimy Pernia, Zulia Calatayud and Indira Terrero of Cuba.
The men's 4 x 100 metres relay competition of the athletics events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on the 27 and 28 October at the Telmex Athletics Stadium. The defending Pan American Games champion were Vicente de Lima, Rafael Ribeiro, Basílio de Moraes Júnior and Sandro Viana of Brazil.
The men's 4 × 400 metres relay competition of the athletics events at the 2011 Pan American Games took place on the 27 and 28 October at the Telmex Athletics Stadium. The defending Pan American Games champion were Andrae Williams, Avard Moncur, Michael Matheau and Chris Brown of Bahamas.
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The United States competed at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, from October 14 to October 30, 2011.