Juegos Panamericanos - Guadalajara 2011

In October 2011, Guadalajara, Mexico, will be hosting the Pan American games, or Juegos Panamericanos, a sporting event that brings together all the American nations. This event, first held in Buenos Aires in 1951, is held once every four years, in different cities across the continent. The official languages of the games are English and Spanish, meaning that this will be a great occasion to learn some Spanish sporting vocabulary!

Guadalajara is looking forward to hosting the games and the many visitors that they will attract. For the last few years the city has seen a lot of economic, cultural and social development, which preparation for the games has helped with. Many new buildings and sports centers have been built to accommodate the events and their spectators, including the velodrome, gymnastics arena, aquatics centre and the Panamerican village, which will be home to more than 5000 athletes from the 42 competing countries. The international airport of Guadalajara has also seen the construction of a second terminal, and internal transport has been made easier with the new roads and bus system. As the capital of the state of Jalisco, it has always been one of Mexico’s major cities and is regarded as having great potential to become an international economic centre.

It will also be proud to show off its traditional Mexican culture which still exists in harmony with the modern developments that the city boasts and is evident in the local customs, food and dances. It also has many magnificent buildings dating back to the colonial period, including the Metropolitan cathedral, as well as many other religious buildings that demonstrate the city’s predominantly Catholic traditions. Its great geographical location near to the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains and the beautiful Lake Chapala means that tourists won’t be disappointed by the surroundings. After a hard day of supporting their favorite sports stars, visitors will also be able to enjoy the local nightlife, which, unlike some of Mexico’s coastal cities, offers something for all ages and interests.

The Pan American Games 2011 will comprise 36 categories of sport, some of which have their own sub categories. Most are known Olympic sports and will see international superstars compete. However, there are also typical American sports on the list too, including racquetball and softball, making the games unique to the continent. Basque pelota has also been introduced this time, adding a Spanish element to the event.

As for the opening ceremony, which will be held on the 13^th October, the organizers are giving very little away, although have stated that it will ‘bring the story of Guadalajara to life in front of a worldwide audience’. It is set to be an impressive start to the games, incorporating different parts of the city and costing between 20 and 25 million dollars. The event will also comprise the Parapan American games, with 13 sporting categories for athletes with physical disabilities, before the closing ceremony in November.

The country has a strong sporting history and it is hoped that this year’s Pan American Games will add to this, as well as giving the city of Guadalajara the chance to show what it truly has to offer culturally, socially and economically. Fans claim that these will be the best games yet, and with the intense preparation that Guadalajara has invested in, they could well be right!