Abstract
This chapter explores the origins and evolution of the Games in the context of a region that had experienced important political, cultural, and economic changes. Due to an increased awareness within the public sector of the role of sport, the last decade has witnessed the passage of sport legislation and the establishment of public agencies in many South American countries. Both have contributed to justify public investment in sport. While the future of the South American Games lies in the hands of the governing body ODESUR, growth and sustainability depends on governments’ willingness to fund and support these initiatives. The rise of the South American Games provides evidence of the critical role sport plays as a part of the public policies of the countries in South America.
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Notes
- 1.
ODESUR , from the acronym in Spanish ‘Organización Deportiva Suramericana ’, or South American Sport Organization.
- 2.
For example, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Southern African Development Community (SADC); Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA), Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) (Söderbaum, 2003).
- 3.
The political division of South America today includes 12 independent nations and three territories. Nine out of 12 of these independent nations, namely, Argentina , Bolivia, Chile, Colombia , Ecuador, Paraguay , Peru , Uruguay and Venezuela were former colonies of Spain . Brazil is a former colony of Portugal. Suriname became independent from the Netherlands, and Guyana from the United Kingdom. The three territories include French Guyana, a territory of France; the Falkland Islands; and the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, which are territories of the United Kingdom (‘List of countries’, 2017; Minkel et al., 2017).
- 4.
The Pan American Games started in 1951 as a quadrennial multi-sport event. Its first edition took place in Chicago.
- 5.
From the acronym in Spanish ‘Organización Deportiva Bolivariana ’ (ODEBO).
- 6.
Until 2012, ODEBO members included Colombia , Venezuela , Ecuador, Panama , Bolivia and Peru . In 2013, Chile became part of this organization.
- 7.
Military governments and ‘civil military’ governments existed in Argentina 1966–1973 and 1976–1983; Brazil 1964–1985, Bolivia 1964–1970 and 1971–1982; Chile 1973–1990; Ecuador 1963–1966 and 1972–1979, Paraguay 1954–1989; Peru 1968–1980; and Uruguay 1973–1984 (Loveman, 2011).
- 8.
Carlos Nuzman was President of ODESUR from 2003 to 2017. From 2009 to 2016, he was the President of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee. Nuzman was also President of the Brazilian Olympic Committee from 1995 until October of 2017 when he was arrested by Brazilian police on suspicion of bribery and fraud connected to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Nuzman was immediately suspended by the IOC where he was an honorary member since 2013 (Kelner, 2017).
- 9.
The theory of periodization in its classical form was developed by Russian scientist Lev Matveev in the mid-1960s. Grounded in research on exercise physiology, athletic psychology, and training methodology, periodization varies the intensity and volume of training to optimize the body’s ability to recover and rebuild. While successful athletes break each year into preparation cycles for two-four key competitions, the focus of their periodization falls on the most important annual event. Many world-class athletes prepare for minor performance peaks in about four major events during the year, and preparations for these competitions form a bigger cycle of preparation for their most important annual peak performance at the World Championships . The annual cycles form a four-year preparation cycle in order to peak for the Olympic Games (Smolianov & Smith, 2017)
- 10.
Arthur Zanetti, Brazilian gymnast, gold medal in London 2012; Mariana Pajón, Colombian BMX cyclist, gold medal in London 2012; Sebastián Crismanich, Argentinian taekwondo fighter, gold medal in London 2012; Irving Saladino, Panamanian long jump athlete , gold medal in Beijing 2008; Rubén Limardo, Venezuelan fencer, gold medal in London 2012; Fabiana Murer, Brazilian pole vaulter, gold medal World Championship in Athletics in 2011; Thiago Pereira, Brazilian swimmer, 12 gold medals at the Pan American Games ; and, Jossimar Calvo, Colombian gymnast, gold medal in the Pan American Games (COSAN, 2014).
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Bravo, G.A., Shonk, D.J., Silva-Bórquez, J., González-Mesina, S. (2018). The Context of the South American Games. In: Sport Mega-Events in Emerging Economies. Mega Event Planning. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56888-5_4
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