General Overview

The VIII Pan American Games were the first ones organized on Central America. The games at San Juan marked the beggining of a new expansion era. After 12 years without new sports at the program, the 1979 edition open it's doors to three new events: skating, softball and archery. Since then, the number of sports started to grow until reach 35 at 2003.

The games suffered of a big anti-american feeling of the fans, which was manifestated even at the same opening ceremony, where the crow booed the USA anthem and the general governor of Puerto Rico (which was pro-USA on his policies), because of the political status of the island. The protests were organized by PSP (Puerto Rican Socialist Party), taking advantage of the independency clamour of Puerto Rico

The situation got worse after the declarations by Bobby Knight, trainer of the USA basketball team. After being arrested for contempt for local police, he shot to the press: "The only that the port-Ricans do know is planting bananas."

The Opening Ceremonies

The Hiram Bithorn Stadium, with a capacity of 30.000, hosted the Opening Ceremony of the IX Pan American Games. 3700 athletes from 34 nations participated at the parade of nations (USA team flagbearer was Ann Meyers). During the raising of the USA flag, great booes camed from the crow, because of Puerto Rican political status. The prostests were organized by the PSP (as described before on the General Overview). The same situation was repeated with the opening speech by Romeo Barcelo, Governor of Puerto Rico. This were the first games under the presidency of Mario Vazquez Raña on the PASO. The Olympic and PASO flags were hoisted, followed by the Puerto rican flag and anthem. A stunt card section conformed of 3200 children displayed various messages during the ceremonies, and 5000 more children danced and performed. Youth athletes Cynthia Guadalupe and Roberto Clemente carried the flame and lighted the cauldron, finishing the torch relay at Puerto Rico, where 1200 athletes were involved.

The Competitions

At skating, Argentina and USA took the gold, the argentinan skater Nora Vega won four gold medals on those events.. At softball, Canada won at the male competition and USA on the women. But on archery, USA conquered all of the gold and silver medals.

The San Juan games also had distinguished participations on athletics and swimming events. On the tracks, american athlete Reinaldo Nehemiah broke the 110m hurdles World Record, on a 13s20 time. At the pools, two american swimmers also established new world records: Mary Meagher broke the record on butterfly 200m, with 2m09s77, and Jesus Vasallo did the same on the 200m medley, with 2m03s29.

On San Juan, a great generation of north american athletes got their chance to shine, but, because of the boycott to the Oylmpics on the Soviet Union, in 1980, at Moscow, their olympic dreams had to be postponed. On athletics, Evelyn Ashford got the gold on 100 and 200m, but she would win the gold only at the 100m race on Los Angeles 1984 olympics.

The Closing Ceremonies

*Under Construction*

Curious facts of the Games

- The Panamanian delegation was with a deficit of $ 2,700 after the treasurer of the country, Sanchez Rivas, had been stolen by a North American who slept in his room.

-The venezuelan Maribel Quinones, aged 16, had a progressive paralysis in the legs after fall of the asymmetric bars.

-Olympic Legend Carl Lewis, nine times Olympic champion in the 80s, première in international competitions as barneys on long distance jump. He was bronze in the race in which John of Pulo assured his Pan-American Championship. In Pan 1987, in Indianapolis, already established worldwide, Lewis was gold.

-Ecuadorian Andres Gomez won the bronze medal at tennis, and becomes professional in the same year. He reached the top 10 in the world and making the final of Roland Garros in 1990 against the North American Andre Agassi.

Final Medal Table