1991 Summary

THE HOST CITY

Havana was awarded the 1991 games as a consolation for losing the 1987 games to Indianapolis.

THE OPENING CEREMONIES

The Games opened on 2 August in 35,000 seat Pan American Stadium. Horse drawn carriages, colorful banners, 300 children portraying the games mascot - Tocopan (a bird) - and gymnasts entertained the crowd.

A record 4519 athletes from 39 countries marched in the parade of nations. Kayaker Jim Schreiner carried the U.S. Flag and Orestes Kindelan, a baseball player, carried the Cuban Flag. A 5000 member card section formed a colorful and constantly changing background.

PASO President Mario Vasquez Rana introduced Cuban President Fidel Castro, calling it a "great day for this continent." Castro then gave possibly the shortest speech of his life: "Distinguished guests, athletes and compatriots, I declare open the 11th Pan American Games. Thank you." Six soldiers carried in the ceremonial PASO Flag. They folded it and presented it to President Rana, who presented it to boxing legend Teofilo Stevenson.

High jumper Javier Sotomayor rode a platform through the card section to the rim of the stadium. As lightning crackled behind him, Sotomayor lit the Pan American Flame. Ana Quirot, a runner, then took the athletes' oath. The Olympic Flag was raised to the strains of the Olympic Hymn. The ceremonial PASO Flag was raised as the Pan American Anthem was played. Then the Cuban and Havana Flags were raised, accompanied by the Cuban National Anthem. The athletes then marched out.

THE COMPETITION

(Coming Soon)

Click here for list of 1991 Gold Medalists

THE CLOSING CEREMONIES

The Games closed on 18 August in a packed Pan American Stadium. They began with the arrival of Cuban President Fidel Castro, who delayed the start of the ceremony by 30 minutes by staying too long at the boxing venue. Parachutists landed with banners bearing the name of each host city from 1951 to 1995.

Then the athletes paraded around the stadium to the music "Guantanamera". The President of the Organizing Committee, Jose Ramon Fernandez Alvarez, addressed the athletes: "We are very proud of the Cuban delegation. They devoted themselves to fight for the victory, bearing in mind the loftiest Olympic ideals. The victory is of everyone, of PASO, the National Olympic Committee, and out people." PASO President Rana then spoke: "Today is a day filled with happiness. It's also a sad and nostalgic day, a day that has become history. It is a day was can say, "We did it." Thank you, Cuba...because together, proudly united, they accomplished to host and organize the best Pan American Games in history...games without luxury or ostentation." He then called upon "our sports youth to meet in four years time in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina." Fidel Castro then declared the games closed.

The Olympic, PASO, Cuban, and Havana Flags were lowered. The Argentine Flag was raised and the Argentine National Anthem played in salute to the 1995 host. Finally, the Pan American Flame was extinguished.

The ceremony ended with a 90 minute concert featuring music of the western hemisphere.





THE HOST CITY Havana was awarded the 1991 games as a consolation for losing the 1987 games to Indianapolis.

	THE OPENING CEREMONIES The Games opened on 2 August in 35,000 seat Pan American Stadium. Horse drawn carriages, colorful banners, 300 children portraying the games mascot - Tocopan (a bird) - and gymnasts entertained the crowd. A record 4519 athletes from 39 countries marched in the parade of nations. Kayaker Jim Schreiner carried the U.S. Flag and Orestes Kindelan, a baseball player, carried the Cuban Flag. A 5000 member card section formed a colorful and constantly changing background. PASO President Mario Vasquez Rana introduced Cuban President Fidel Castro, calling it a "great day for this continent." Castro then gave possibly the shortest speech of his life: "Distinguished guests, athletes and compatriots, I declare open the 11th Pan American Games. Thank you." Six soldiers carried in the ceremonial PASO Flag. They folded it and presented it to President Rana, who presented it to boxing legend Teofilo Stevenson. High jumper Javier Sotomayor rode a platform through the card section to the rim of the stadium. As lightning crackled behind him, Sotomayor lit the Pan American Flame. Ana Quirot, a runner, then took the athletes' oath. The Olympic Flag was raised to the strains of the Olympic Hymn. The ceremonial PASO Flag was raised as the Pan American Anthem was played. Then the Cuban and Havana Flags were raised, accompanied by the Cuban National Anthem. The athletes then marched out.

		THE COMPETITION (Coming Soon) Click here for list of 1991 Gold Medalists

	THE CLOSING CEREMONIES The Games closed on 18 August in a packed Pan American Stadium. They began with the arrival of Cuban President Fidel Castro, who delayed the start of the ceremony by 30 minutes by staying too long at the boxing venue. Parachutists landed with banners bearing the name of each host city from 1951 to 1995. Then the athletes paraded around the stadium to the music "Guantanamera". The President of the Organizing Committee, Jose Ramon Fernandez Alvarez, addressed the athletes: "We are very proud of the Cuban delegation. They devoted themselves to fight for the victory, bearing in mind the loftiest Olympic ideals. The victory is of everyone, of PASO, the National Olympic Committee, and out people." PASO President Rana then spoke: "Today is a day filled with happiness. It's also a sad and nostalgic day, a day that has become history. It is a day was can say, "We did it." Thank you, Cuba...because together, proudly united, they accomplished to host and organize the best Pan American Games in history...games without luxury or ostentation." He then called upon "our sports youth to meet in four years time in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina." Fidel Castro then declared the games closed. The Olympic, PASO, Cuban, and Havana Flags were lowered. The Argentine Flag was raised and the Argentine National Anthem played in salute to the 1995 host. Finally, the Pan American Flame was extinguished. The ceremony ended with a 90 minute concert featuring music of the western hemisphere.