Regional multi-sport event in South America
Inauguration of the XVII Games in 2013
Games
TheBolivarian Games (Spanish:Juegos Bolivarianos , full nameJuegos Deportivos Bolivarianos ) are a regionalmulti-sport event held in honor ofSimón Bolívar , and organized by theBolivarian Sports Organization (Organización Deportiva Bolivariana , ODEBO). The event is open to athletes fromBolivia ,Colombia ,Ecuador ,Panama ,Peru , theDominican Republic ,Puerto Rico [ 1] andVenezuela . In 2010, the ODEBO decided to includeChile as the seventh member of ODEBO.[ 2] Except Panama and the Dominican Republic, all other participating countries are Andean states.
The first Games were held in 1938 inBogotá ,Colombia for the city's 400th anniversary. They have since been held irregularly, but every four years since 1973, with the most recent edition inValledupar , Colombia in 2022. Inspired by the events of1936 Summer Olympics inBerlin ,[ 3] 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.[ 4]
Following the first Games, the Bolivarian Sports Organization was formed as a sub-organisation of thePan 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).[ 3]
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) ofODESUR .[ 5]
Notes ^ As recognized by the IOC. Year Games Host City Host Country Opened by Dates Nations Events Top medalling nation 2024 1 Sucre [ 10] Bolivia 4–14 Apr 7 234 Colombia
The following table was compiled based on information extracted from a variety of sources.[ 5] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 23] [ 24] [ 25] [ 26] [ 27] [ 28] [ 29] [ 30] [ 31] [ 32] [ 33] 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
The sport ofcricket is set to debut in the 2025 Bolivarian Games.[ 34]
Andean Community Member states (South America exceptMercosur )ODEBO (Organización Deportiva Bolivariana) /Andean Community (Andean States ):
Bolivia Colombia Ecuador Panama Peru Venezuela Invited Nations (5)[ edit ] The invited countries are not members ofODEBO but they are invited since 2013
El Salvador Guatemala Dominican Republic Chile ParaguayODEBO Members of theNational Olympic Committees include:
The total medal count for all the Games until 2024 is tabulated below. This table is sorted by the number ofgold medals won by each country. The number ofsilver medals is taken into consideration next, and then the number ofbronze medals .Chile , theDominican Republic ,El Salvador ,Guatemala , andParaguay started competing since the2013 Bolivarian Games .
Beach Games (2012-2016)[ edit ] ^ Colombia, Ministerio del Deporte-Gobierno de."XIX Juegos Bolivarianos" .XIX Juegos Bolivarianos Valledupar 2022 . ^ "Historia" .odebolivariana.org (in Spanish). Archived fromthe original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved21 August 2016 .^a b Creacion Archived July 19, 2011, at theWayback Machine (in Spanish) . Juegos Bolivarianos. Retrieved on 2009-11-27.^ Historia de los Juegos Deportivos Bolivarianos . EABolivia (2009-11-13). Retrieved on 2009-11-27.^a b Gamarra Zorrilla, José,Bolivia Olímpica Capítulos VI al VIII (PDF) (in Spanish), ANDES Academia del Conocimiento y el Desarrollo "Fernando Diez de Medina", retrievedJune 28, 2012 ^ "Trujillo podría ser la próxima sede de los Bolivarianos" [Trujillo could be the next home of the Bolivarian Games].CPNRadio (in Spanish). January 11, 2011. Archived fromthe original on January 21, 2011.^ "XX Juegos Bolivarianos 2025 se realizarán en Ayacucho y Lima" .ODEBO .^ El Telégrafo (July 22, 2013)."Huanchaco será sede de los II Juegos Bolivarianos de Playa" [Huanchaco selected as host city for the 2nd Bolivarian Beach Games] (in Spanish). Archived fromthe original on December 3, 2013. RetrievedOctober 7, 2013 . ^ "Iquique acogerá III Juegos Bolivarianos de Playa 2016" . ODEBA. 7 March 2015. Archived fromthe original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved20 August 2016 .^ "COB se reúne con el Alcalde de Sucre con miras a los Bolivarianos 2020" .www.comiteolimpicoboliviano.org.bo (in Spanish). Retrieved30 July 2018 .^a b JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS DESDE 1938 HASTA 2009 (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Peruano, archived fromthe original on August 2, 2012, retrievedJune 28, 2012 ^ PARTICIPACION HISTORICA DEL PERU (PDF) (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Peruano, archived fromthe original (PDF) on November 4, 2013, retrievedJune 28, 2012 ^ CUADRO DE MEDALLISTAS ECUATORIANOS EN LA HISTORIA DE LOS J. D. B. POR EDICIÓN (PDF) (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano, archived fromthe original (PDF) on June 8, 2012, retrievedJune 28, 2012 ^ XIX JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS "AMBATO 2001" - MEDALLISTAS DE ORO POR DEPORTE DE ECUADOR (PDF) (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano, archived fromthe original (PDF) on June 8, 2012, retrievedJune 28, 2012 ^ XV JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS "ARMENIA-PEREIRA-CARTAGENA-BOGOTA (PDF) (in Spanish), Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano, archived fromthe original (PDF) on June 8, 2012, retrievedJune 28, 2012 ^ Quesada F., Estewil (April 24, 1993),Comienza el Ciclo Olímpico (in Spanish), El Tiempo, Bogotá, Colombia, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ Comienza el Ciclo Olímpico (in Spanish), El Tiempo, Bogotá, Colombia, May 30, 2000, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ AREQUIPA CAPITAL BOLIVARIANA (in Spanish), Explored, Quito, Ecuador, October 16, 1997, archived fromthe original on January 6, 2013, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ HOY SE INAUGURAN LOS JUEGOS BOLIVARIANOS DE AMBATO (in Spanish), Explored, Quito, Ecuador, September 7, 2001, archived fromthe original on January 6, 2013, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ Pierrend, José Luis; Cornejo, Alfonzo (September 3, 2005),"Bolivarian Games: Soccer Tournaments" ,RSSSF , retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ HISTORIA DEL BOXEO EN COLOMBIA (in Spanish), boxeodecolombia, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ Tiro Olímpico. Historial de Medallas (PDF) (in Spanish), Federación Venezolana de Tiro, archived fromthe original (PDF) on November 16, 2010, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ Participantes en Ciclos Olímpicos (in Spanish), Federación Peruana de Lucha Amateur, September 21, 2010, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ Se inician hoy los Juegos Bolivarianos (in Spanish), La Prensa, Panamá, September 7, 2001, archived fromthe original on January 31, 2013, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ XIV Juegos Bolivarianos Ambato 2001 (in Spanish), Diario HOY, Quito, Ecuador, archived fromthe original on July 7, 2012, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ XV Juegos Bolivarianos 2005 - Armenia - Pereira (in Spanish), archived fromthe original on July 22, 2012, retrievedJune 30, 2012 ^ CARACAS EN RETROSPECTIVA - JUEGOS DEPORTIVOS BOLIVARIANOS 1951 (in Spanish), September 1, 2012, retrievedOctober 23, 2012 ^ ECUADOR SE CLASIFICO EN SEGUNDO TERMINO (in Spanish),El Tiempo , August 23, 1938, pp. 4, 7 (original page no.: 6, 13), retrievedOctober 24, 2012 ^ RESULTADOS GENERALES DE LOS JUEGOS BOLIVARIANOS (in Spanish),El Tiempo , August 23, 1938, pp. 4, 5 (original page no.: 6, 7), retrievedOctober 24, 2012 ^ Méndez, Jorge (December 29, 1947),La Ciudad de los Virreyes Está de Fiesta por los Juegos Bolivarianos - Sin complejos de inferioridad debemos ganar el béisbol - Un balance de las justas bolivarianos por Jorge Méndez, enviad especial de EL TIEMPO a Lima (in Spanish),El Tiempo , p. 7 (original page no.: 13), retrievedOctober 25, 2012 ^ El Atletismo Llega a su Etapa Final - Triunfos de Colombia en Natación, Tiro, Ajedrez, Billar - Panamá y el Perú Acaparon las Victorias en la Pruebas de la Jornada de Atletismo (in Spanish),El Tiempo , December 11, 1951, p. 6 (original page no.: 10), retrievedOctober 26, 2012 ^ COLOMBIA CAMPEON BOLIVARIANO DE FUTBOL - Bríllante Tríunfo de Forero en la Prueba de Fondo - Holder, de Panamá, Quebró los Records Bolivariano y Panamericano de pesas - Perú conquistó el pentathlon moderno - Lloreda ganó la prueba contra reloj - Exitos de Panamá y Venezuela en boxeo (in Spanish),El Tiempo , December 17, 1951, p. 10 (original page no.: 17), retrievedOctober 26, 2012 ^ Quesada, Estewil (January 15, 1989),En la Inauguración de los Bolivarianos - Folclor por encima de la fantasía (in Spanish),El Tiempo , retrievedJanuary 18, 2013 ^ "CWI attempts to expand cricket in Americas through FECA initiative" .ESPNcricinfo . 10 July 2025. Retrieved14 September 2025 .^a b c "Medallería - XVIII Juegos Bolivarianos" . Archived fromthe original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved2017-11-25 .^ "Tabla de medallería histórica - XVIII Juegos Bolivarianos" . Archived fromthe original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved2017-11-25 .
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