VIII Pan American Games

Host	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nations	34
Athletes	3,700
Events	250 in 24sports
Opening	July 1
Closing	July 15
Opened by	GovernorCarlos Romero Barceló
Cauldron lighter	Cynthia Guadalupe
Main venue	Hiram Bithorn Stadium
← 1975 Mexico City 1983 Caracas →

The1979 Pan American Games, officially theVIII Pan American Games (Spanish:VIII Juegos Panamericanos) and commonly known asSan Juan 1979, were amulti-sport event governed by thePanam Sports Organization (PASO), and were held inSan Juan,Puerto Rico, from July 1 to July 15, 1979. Volleyball and some baseball matches were held inCaguas, Puerto Rico.^[1][2] The 1980 documentary filmA Step Away showcased a number of athletes competing in the Games.

On May 31, 1973, San Juan was the only candidate city to be a finalist to host the games and thus, San Juan was then selected to host the VIII Pan American Games by PASO at its general assembly inSantiago, Chile.^[3][4][5]

The use of the Puerto Rican flag and anthem over those of the United States became a point of contention between the COPUR and the administration.^[6] As mayor of San Juan, then-GovernorCarlos Romero Barceló had been involved in the organization process, but as soon as he took office demanded that the flag of Puerto Rico could only be used if accompanied by that of the United States and that both anthems were to be played.^[6] Pushback came from sports leaders led byGermán Rieckehoff, who noted that it was against IOC rules, while civilian groups backed their stance.^[6] The Asociación de Atletas y Deportistas de Puerto Rico emerged as an educational tool against the administration.^[6] Romero hosted the opening ceremony and coordinated for both anthems to be played, being jeered himself and witnessing the booing of the American anthem in what became known as "La Pitada Olímpica".^[7] In 1980 a documentary titledA Step Away covered the organization of the event.^[8]

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States	126	95	45	266
2	Cuba	64	47	34	145
3	Canada	24	43	71	138
4	Argentina	12	7	17	36
5	Brazil	9	13	17	39
Totals (5 entries)		235	205	184	624

Note

^ The medal count forCanada is disputed.

The 1979 Games were the first one to feature a mascot, which was a running frog holding a torch namedCoqui.^[9]

Footnotes

Bibliography

• Sotomayor, Antonio (2016).The Sovereign Colony: Olympic Sport, National Identity, and International Politics in Puerto Rico. University of Nebraska Press.ISBN 9780803278813.
• García Morales, Joaquín (2014).Historia del Cine Puertorriqueño. Editorial Siembra.ISBN 9781463387310.

• San Juan 1979 - VIII Pan American Games - Official Report (Part 1) at PanamSports.org
• San Juan 1979 - VIII Pan American Games - Official Report (Part 2) at PanamSports.org

• 1979 Pan American Games
• International sports competitions hosted by Puerto Rico
• 1979 in Puerto Rican sports
• Multi-sport events in Puerto Rico
• 1979 in multi-sport events
• Sports in San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Pan American Games
• 1979 in North American sport
• 1979 in South American sport
• 20th century in San Juan, Puerto Rico
• July 1979 sports events in North America

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