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, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico^[1] and Venezuela. In 2010, the ODEBO decided to include Chile as the seventh member of ODEBO.^[2] Except Panama and the Dominican Republic, all other participating countries are Andean states.

History

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,^[3] 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.^[4]

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).^[3]

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.^[5]

Summary

Games

Beach Games

Notes

1. ^ As recognized by the IOC.

Youth Games

Sports

The following table was compiled based on information extracted from a variety of sources.^{[5][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]} 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

The sport of cricket is set to debut in the 2025 Bolivarian Games.^[34]

Nations

Core (6)

ODEBO (Organización Deportiva Bolivariana) / Andean Community (Andean States):

• Bolivia
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Panama
• Peru
• Venezuela

Invited Nations (5)

The invited countries are not members of ODEBO but they are invited since 2013

Central America

• El Salvador
• Guatemala

Caribbean

• Dominican Republic

South America

• Chile
• Paraguay

Members

ODEBO Members of the National Olympic Committees include:

Medals

Games (1938-2024)

The total medal count for all the Games until 2024 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, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Paraguay started competing since the 2013 Bolivarian Games.

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.^[35]
• 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.^[35]
• Colombia holds the record for the biggest lead of total medals to second place, 168 medals more than Venezuela in 2017.^[35]
• 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.^[36]

Beach Games (2012-2016)

Sport in Americas

• Sport in North America
• Sport in South America

See also

• Andean Community
• Latin America
• Southern Cone
• Pan American Games
• Parapan American Games
• Central American and Caribbean Games
• Central American Games
• South American Games
• Ibero American Games
• Caribbean Games
• ALBA Games
• American frontier
• The Guianas
• Caribbean South America
• Caribbean Free Trade Association
• Central American Integration System
• Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
• Mercosur
• Union of South American Nations
• Market access
• Free trade area
• Trade bloc
• Free Trade Area of the Americas

References

1. ^ Colombia, Ministerio del Deporte-Gobierno de. "XIX Juegos Bolivarianos". XIX Juegos Bolivarianos Valledupar 2022
2. ^ "Historia" (in Spanish). odebolivariana.org. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
3. ^ Creacion Archived July 19, 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish). Juegos Bolivarianos. Retrieved on 2009-11-27.
4. ^ Historia de los Juegos Deportivos Bolivarianos. EABolivia (2009-11-13). Retrieved on 2009-11-27.
5. ^ Gamarra Zorrilla, José, "Bolivia Olímpica Capítulos VI al VIII" (in Spanish), ANDES Academia del Conocimiento y el Desarrollo "Fernando Diez de Medina", retrieved June 28, 2012
6. ^ "Trujillo podría ser la próxima sede de los Bolivarianos" [Trujillo could be the next home of the Bolivarian Games] (in Spanish). CPNRadio. January 11, 2011. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011.
7. ^ "XX Juegos Bolivarianos 2025 se realizarán en Ayacucho y Lima". ODEBO
8. ^ El Telégrafo (July 22, 2013). "Huanchaco será sede de los II Juegos Bolivarianos de Playa" [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.
9. ^ "Iquique acogerá III Juegos Bolivarianos de Playa 2016". ODEBA. 7 March 2015. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
10. ^ "COB se reúne con el Alcalde de Sucre con miras a los Bolivarianos 2020" (in Spanish). www.comiteolimpicoboliviano.org.bo. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
11. ^ "JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS DESDE 1938 HASTA 2009" (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Peruano, archived from the original on August 2, 2012, retrieved June 28, 2012
12. ^ "PARTICIPACION HISTORICA DEL PERU" (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Peruano, archived from the original on November 4, 2013, retrieved June 28, 2012
13. ^ "CUADRO DE MEDALLISTAS ECUATORIANOS EN LA HISTORIA DE LOS J. D. B. POR EDICIÓN" (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano, archived from the original on June 8, 2012, retrieved June 28, 2012
14. ^ "XIX JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS "AMBATO 2001" - MEDALLISTAS DE ORO POR DEPORTE DE ECUADOR" (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano, archived from the original on June 8, 2012, retrieved June 28, 2012
15. ^ "XV JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS "ARMENIA-PEREIRA-CARTAGENA-BOGOTA" (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano, archived from the original on June 8, 2012, retrieved June 28, 2012
16. ^ Quesada F., Estewil (April 24, 1993), "Comienza el Ciclo Olímpico" (in Spanish), El Tiempo, Bogotá, Colombia, retrieved June 30, 2012
17. ^ "Comienza el Ciclo Olímpico" (in Spanish), El Tiempo, Bogotá, Colombia, May 30, 2000, retrieved June 30, 2012
18. ^ "AREQUIPA CAPITAL BOLIVARIANA" (in Spanish), Explored, Quito, Ecuador, October 16, 1997, archived from the original on January 6, 2013, retrieved June 30, 2012
19. ^ "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
20. ^ Pierrend, José Luis & Cornejo, Alfonzo (September 3, 2005), "Bolivarian Games: Soccer Tournaments", RSSSF, retrieved June 30, 2012
21. ^ "HISTORIA DEL BOXEO EN COLOMBIA" (in Spanish), boxeodecolombia, retrieved June 30, 2012
22. ^ "Tiro Olímpico. Historial de Medallas" (in Spanish), Federación Venezolana de Tiro, archived from the original on November 16, 2010, retrieved June 30, 2012
23. ^ "Participantes en Ciclos Olímpicos" (in Spanish), Federación Peruana de Lucha Amateur, September 21, 2010, retrieved June 30, 2012
24. ^ "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
25. ^ "XIV Juegos Bolivarianos Ambato 2001" (in Spanish), Diario HOY, Quito, Ecuador, archived from the original on July 7, 2012, retrieved June 30, 2012
26. ^ "XV Juegos Bolivarianos 2005 - Armenia - Pereira" (in Spanish), archived from the original on July 22, 2012, retrieved June 30, 2012
27. ^ "CARACAS EN RETROSPECTIVA - JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS 1951" (in Spanish), September 1, 2012, retrieved October 23, 2012
28. ^ "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
29. ^ "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
30. ^ 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
31. ^ "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
32. ^ "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
33. ^ 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
34. ^ "CWI attempts to expand cricket in Americas through FECA initiative". ESPNcricinfo. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
35. ^ "Medallería - XVIII Juegos Bolivarianos". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
36. ^ "Tabla de medallería histórica - XVIII Juegos Bolivarianos". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-25.

External links

• 2001 Bolivarian Games results (in Spanish)
• 2005 Bolivarian Games official website (in Spanish)
• 2009 Bolivarian Games official website (in Spanish)