Bolivarian Games
# 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. Except Panama, 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, 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.

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).

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.

## Summary

### Games

| Year | Ed. | Host city | Host country | 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 | 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 | Colombia | Clara Luz Roldán | 24 Jun – 5 July | 11 | 389 | Colombia |
| 2024 | XX | Ayacucho | Peru | TBA | 6–15 Dec | 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 | Peru | | 3–12 December | 11 | 71 | Venezuela |
| 2016 | III | Iquique | Chile | | 24 November - 3 December | 11 | 81 | Chile |
| 2019 | IV | Vargas | Venezuela | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |

**Notes**

* ↑ As recognized by the IOC.

### Youth Games

| Year | Games | Host City | Host Country | Opened by | Dates | Nations | Events | Top medalling nation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2023 | I | Sucre | Bolivia | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |

## Sports

The following table was compiled based on information extracted from a variety of sources. 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) | Sport (Discipline) | Body | Body | 38 | 47 | 51 | 61 | 65 | 70 | 73 | 77 | 81 | 85 | 89 | 93 | 97 | 01 | 05 | 09 | 13 | 17 | 22 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sport (Discipline) | Sport (Discipline) | World | South America | 38 | 47 | 51 | 61 | 65 | 70 | 73 | 77 | 81 | 85 | 89 | 93 | 97 | 01 | 05 | 09 | 13 | 17 | 22 |
| Diving | | FINA | ASUA | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | | | | X | | X | X | |
| Open water swimming | | FINA | ASUA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | X | X |
| Swimming | | FINA | ASUA | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Synchronized swimming | | FINA | ASUA | | | | | | | | | | | X | | | | | | X | X | X |
| Water polo | | FINA | ASUA | 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 | | FIBA | FIBA Americas | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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 | | UCI | COPACI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | X | X | X | X |
| Road cycling | | UCI | COPACI | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Track cycling | | UCI | COPACI | 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 | | FIFA | CONMEBOL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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 | | FIG | CONSUGI | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Trampoline | | FIG | CONSUGI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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 | | CMAS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | | |
| Spearfishing | | CMAS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | | |
| Beach volleyball | | FIVB | CSV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | X | X | | X | X |
| Volleyball | | FIVB | CSV | 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 | Total sports | Total sports | Total sports | 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, the 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 | 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.
* 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.
* Colombia holds the record for the biggest lead of total medals to second place, 168 medals more than Venezuela in 2017.
* 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.

## 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 | Total | 216 | 216 | 215 | 647 |
