The Pan-American (Panam for short) Games are friendly games that are only for countries in North, South, and Central America. The International Olympic Committee started these games to create more friendly competition between the Americas. The Panam Games are held every four years in a new location, chosen through the committee’s long voting and presentation process. Panamsports.org said, "since 1951, these Games have united the countries of the Americas and many of the best athletes the world has ever seen” (Panamsports.org). Since starting the games 70 years ago, the Panam Games have helped the American Olympic movement grow more among the American culture (Panamsports.org). Though the Panam sports do not get as much attention and recognition as the Summer Olympics, the Pan-American Organization continues to look for ways to advertise this sporting event better to attract more fans and audiences (Reuters.com). These games hold a variety of sports, from Track and Field to swimming and gymnastics. Since these games were established, it has helped the American Culture grow and connect American countries. 

The Panam Games began in 1951, and many successes, failures, and changes have helped develop the games into the great Panam Games of today. The biggest changes have been the number of audiences and competitors as well as the location of the games. Held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the first games started off small, with only 21 countries and 2,513 athletes competing. As time went on, the number of competitors and countries involved increased. Unfortunately, the only time the number of competitors dropped significantly was in 1963, when it fell from 2,263 athletes to only 1,665 (Panamsports.org). Since then, the number of athletes and attendees has only increased and continues to do so today. 

With the games’ location changing every four years, the Panam games have been in many places in the Americas. Many countries, which include the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, have had the opportunity to hold the games multiple times. The first city to ever host the Panam Games twice was completed in 1975, when Mexico City, Mexico, had the opportunity to host (Panamsports.org). Seeing countries begin to gather excitement to host the games shows the country's spirit in the games. Pride springs among the home audience when competitors from their home countries do well and win medals (Reuters.com). These big changes in the Panam Games helped unite the Americas into a tighter bond because they all had to adjust together and learn from the new developments each time. 

The many successes and mistakes the Santiago games produced will help make the 2027 Lima games better. Santiago had already previously been granted twice to host the games but had to unfortunately drop out due to political and financial issues going on at that time (Reuters.com). The 2023 Santiago games started rough, with some mistakes like the women’s 20-kilometer racewalk being shorter than it should be, which shook many critiques and judgments. To learn from the mistakes, Keaton of Reuters.com emphasized that “[t]hese are the type of problems that hit almost every multi-sport Games and quickly dealt with, but the issues confronting the Pan Am Sports Organisation (PSO) cannot be so easily solved” (Reuters.com). Using these mistakes will help the next host country learn and not repeat the mistakes again. 

The Pan-American Games have not only brought countries together but have also inspired many children around the world to keep going for their dreams. Many athletes like Alyson Felix and Michael Jordan have competed in the Panam games, encouraging many to want to do the same (Panamsports.org). Seeing athletes on the big screen makes many worldwide want to achieve their dreams. Learning more about these games through my bisabuela and my family has helped me appreciate the love of these games more. These games have helped bring many countries together through their love for sports and their countries. Renzo Manyari, the President of the Peruvian Olympic committee, said that “together we win” (Panamsports.org), showing that the Americas have united and will continue to support one another through all they endure.