Opening and Closing Ceremonies

OPENING CEREMONY

The Opening Ceremony of the Pan American Games is a colorful spectacle. The ceremony begins with a pageant showcasing the best of the Host Nation and City.

Then the Parade of Nations begins. According to tradition, Argentina, host of the Ist Pan American Games, leads the nations into the stadium. The teams then enter in alphabetical order with the host nation last. The athletes make for an inspiring sight as they pass in review behind their national flags, many wearing their native costumes.

After the athletes have assembled in the stadium, the President of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) then makes a short speech inviting the Head of State of the host nation to declare the games open.

The Head of State then declares the games open in the following words: "I declare open the games of ___________ celebrating the ______ Pan American Games!"

Next, the ceremonial PASO Flag is carried in. The flag is presented by the PASO President to the mayor of the host city, symbolizing the continuity of the games.

Then the Pan American Torch arrives. The torch has been lit at an Aztec temple in Mexico City and carried by a relay of runners to the site of the games. A famous athlete from the host nation lights the Pan American Flame which will burn throughout the games.

An athlete from the host nation then steps forward and pronounces the Pan American Games Oath in the following words: "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we will take part in these Pan American Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams." Then an official from the host nation pronounces the officials oath: "In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we will officiate in these Pan American Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them in the true spirit of sportsmanship."

Next, the Olympic Flag is raised as the Olympic Hymn is played, symbolizing the games place in the Olympic Movement. Then the ceremonial PASO Flag is raised. The organizing committee selects music to accompany this. Finally, the flags of the host nation and host city are raised as the national anthem is played.

Another Pan American Games have begun!

CLOSING CEREMONY

The Closing Ceremony is a mix of joy and sadness. A celebration of the games just ended and a look ahead to the next games.

Once again the athletes parade into the stadium. This time hand in hand without regard to nation or team, symbolizing the unity of the Americas. Following the athletes, the Flagbearers pass in review before forming a semi-circle at the rostrom.

The President of PASO advances to the rostrum. After thanking the hosts and organizers, he declares the games closed in the following words: "I now declare the ______ Pan American Games closed. And, in accordance with our tradition, I call upon the youth of the Americas to assemble four years from now in _______________ there to celebrate with us the _______ Pan American Games."

The President of PASO asks the mayor of the host city to present the PASO flag to the mayor of the next host city. After that, the Olympic Flag, the PASO ceremonial flag and the flags of the host nation and city are lowered. Finally, the flags of the next host nation and city are raised as the national anthem is played. Then, the next host city makes a presentation inviting everyone to the next games.

The Pan American Flame is extinguished.

Musical entertainment brings another Pan American Games to a close!

US Flagbearers

Opening Ceremony

1937 Jim Reynolds (Athletics)

1951 Miguel de Capriles (Fencing)

1955 Parry O'Brien (Athletics)

1959 Ray Norton (Athletics)

1963 Tommy Kono (Weightlifting)

1967 Don Schollander (Swimming)

1971 Linda Jo Metheny (Gymnastics)

1975 Major Lones Wigger (Shooting)

1979 Ann Meyers (Basketball)

1983 Denise Curry (Basketball)

1987 Jim Abbott (Baseball)

1991 Jim Schreiner (Kayaking)

1995 Peter Westbrook (Fencing)

1999 Karen Smyers (Triathlon)

2003 Carl Eichenlaub (Yachting boatswain)

2007

Closing Ceremony

1937

1951

1955

1959

1963 Ted Nash (Rowing)

1967 Ralph Boston (Athletics)

1971 Susan Britton (Basketball)

1975 Kim Peyton (Swimming)

1979 Kathy Arendsen (Softball)

1983

1987 Kelly Garrison-Steves (Gymnastics)

1991

1995 Bruce Baumgartner (Wrestling)

1999 Wes Barnett (Weightlifting)

2003 Glenn Meyers (Archery)

2007

Takers of the Pan American Games Oath

1937 Neil McIntosh (Athletics)

1951 A male and a female member of the Argentine team

1955 Joaquin Capilla (Diving)

1959 George V. Worth (Fencing)

1963 Amaury Passos (Basketball)

1967

1971

1975

1979

1983

1987

1991 Ana Fidelia Quirot (Athletics)

1995

1999 Sherman Greenfeld (Racquetball) and Denyse Julien (Badminton)

2003

2007

Takers of the Officials Oath

1999 Janice McClintock (Field Hockey)

2003

2007

Final Torchbearers

1937 (No Relay)

1951 John Sossidis (Greek athlete)

1955 Eligio Galacia (Athletics)

1959 Ronald Rodriguez (Eagle Scout)

1963 Jose Teles da Conceicao (Athletics)

1967 Lee Southern (Athletics)

1971 Jaime Aparicio (Athletics)

1975 Rodolfo Gomez (Athletics)

1979

1983 Francisco Rodriguez (Boxing)

1987 Wilma Rudolph (Athletics)

1991 Javier Sotomayor (Athletics)

1995 Leonardo Malgor (Athletics)

1999 Silken Laumann (Rowing) and Alwyn Morris (Canoeing/Kayaking)

2003 Juan Marichal (Baseball) and Luis Pujols (Baseball)

2007

Heads of State Who Have Opened The Games

1951 General Juan Domingo Peron, President of the Argentine Republic

1955 Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, President of the United Mexican States

1959 Dr. Milton S. Eisenhower and Richard J. Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago

1963 Adamar de Barros, Governor of Sao Paulo

1967 HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

1971 Misael Pastrana Borrero, President of Colombia

1975 Luis Echeverria, President of the United Mexican States

1979 Carlos Romero Barcelo, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

1983 Luis Herrera Campins, President of Venezuela

1987 George Herbert Walker Bush, Vice-President of the United States of America

1991 Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba

1995 Carlos Saul Menem, President of the Argentine Republic

1999 Rt. Hon. Romeo LeBlanc, Governor-General of Canada

2003 Hipolito Mejia, President of the Dominican Republic

2007



OPENING CEREMONY The Opening Ceremony of the Pan American Games is a colorful spectacle. The ceremony begins with a pageant showcasing the best of the Host Nation and City. Then the Parade of Nations begins. According to tradition, Argentina, host of the Ist Pan American Games, leads the nations into the stadium. The teams then enter in alphabetical order with the host nation last. The athletes make for an inspiring sight as they pass in review behind their national flags, many wearing their native costumes. After the athletes have assembled in the stadium, the President of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) then makes a short speech inviting the Head of State of the host nation to declare the games open. The Head of State then declares the games open in the following words: "I declare open the games of ___________ celebrating the ______ Pan American Games!" Next, the ceremonial PASO Flag is carried in. The flag is presented by the PASO President to the mayor of the host city, symbolizing the continuity of the games. Then the Pan American Torch arrives. The torch has been lit at an Aztec temple in Mexico City and carried by a relay of runners to the site of the games. A famous athlete from the host nation lights the Pan American Flame which will burn throughout the games. An athlete from the host nation then steps forward and pronounces the Pan American Games Oath in the following words: "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we will take part in these Pan American Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams." Then an official from the host nation pronounces the officials oath: "In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we will officiate in these Pan American Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them in the true spirit of sportsmanship." Next, the Olympic Flag is raised as the Olympic Hymn is played, symbolizing the games place in the Olympic Movement. Then the ceremonial PASO Flag is raised. The organizing committee selects music to accompany this. Finally, the flags of the host nation and host city are raised as the national anthem is played. Another Pan American Games have begun! CLOSING CEREMONY The Closing Ceremony is a mix of joy and sadness. A celebration of the games just ended and a look ahead to the next games. Once again the athletes parade into the stadium. This time hand in hand without regard to nation or team, symbolizing the unity of the Americas. Following the athletes, the Flagbearers pass in review before forming a semi-circle at the rostrom. The President of PASO advances to the rostrum. After thanking the hosts and organizers, he declares the games closed in the following words: "I now declare the ______ Pan American Games closed. And, in accordance with our tradition, I call upon the youth of the Americas to assemble four years from now in _______________ there to celebrate with us the _______ Pan American Games." The President of PASO asks the mayor of the host city to present the PASO flag to the mayor of the next host city. After that, the Olympic Flag, the PASO ceremonial flag and the flags of the host nation and city are lowered. Finally, the flags of the next host nation and city are raised as the national anthem is played. Then, the next host city makes a presentation inviting everyone to the next games. The Pan American Flame is extinguished. Musical entertainment brings another Pan American Games to a close!

	US Flagbearers Opening Ceremony 1937 Jim Reynolds (Athletics) 1951 Miguel de Capriles (Fencing) 1955 Parry O'Brien (Athletics) 1959 Ray Norton (Athletics) 1963 Tommy Kono (Weightlifting) 1967 Don Schollander (Swimming) 1971 Linda Jo Metheny (Gymnastics) 1975 Major Lones Wigger (Shooting) 1979 Ann Meyers (Basketball) 1983 Denise Curry (Basketball) 1987 Jim Abbott (Baseball) 1991 Jim Schreiner (Kayaking) 1995 Peter Westbrook (Fencing) 1999 Karen Smyers (Triathlon) 2003 Carl Eichenlaub (Yachting boatswain) 2007
			Closing Ceremony 1937 1951 1955 1959 1963 Ted Nash (Rowing) 1967 Ralph Boston (Athletics) 1971 Susan Britton (Basketball) 1975 Kim Peyton (Swimming) 1979 Kathy Arendsen (Softball) 1983 1987 Kelly Garrison-Steves (Gymnastics) 1991 1995 Bruce Baumgartner (Wrestling) 1999 Wes Barnett (Weightlifting) 2003 Glenn Meyers (Archery) 2007


	Takers of the Pan American Games Oath 1937 Neil McIntosh (Athletics) 1951 A male and a female member of the Argentine team 1955 Joaquin Capilla (Diving) 1959 George V. Worth (Fencing) 1963 Amaury Passos (Basketball) 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 Ana Fidelia Quirot (Athletics) 1995 1999 Sherman Greenfeld (Racquetball) and Denyse Julien (Badminton) 2003 2007

		Takers of the Officials Oath 1999 Janice McClintock (Field Hockey) 2003 2007

		Final Torchbearers 1937 (No Relay) 1951 John Sossidis (Greek athlete) 1955 Eligio Galacia (Athletics) 1959 Ronald Rodriguez (Eagle Scout) 1963 Jose Teles da Conceicao (Athletics) 1967 Lee Southern (Athletics) 1971 Jaime Aparicio (Athletics) 1975 Rodolfo Gomez (Athletics) 1979 1983 Francisco Rodriguez (Boxing) 1987 Wilma Rudolph (Athletics) 1991 Javier Sotomayor (Athletics) 1995 Leonardo Malgor (Athletics) 1999 Silken Laumann (Rowing) and Alwyn Morris (Canoeing/Kayaking) 2003 Juan Marichal (Baseball) and Luis Pujols (Baseball) 2007

		Heads of State Who Have Opened The Games 1951 General Juan Domingo Peron, President of the Argentine Republic 1955 Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, President of the United Mexican States 1959 Dr. Milton S. Eisenhower and Richard J. Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago 1963 Adamar de Barros, Governor of Sao Paulo 1967 HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 1971 Misael Pastrana Borrero, President of Colombia 1975 Luis Echeverria, President of the United Mexican States 1979 Carlos Romero Barcelo, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 1983 Luis Herrera Campins, President of Venezuela 1987 George Herbert Walker Bush, Vice-President of the United States of America 1991 Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba 1995 Carlos Saul Menem, President of the Argentine Republic 1999 Rt. Hon. Romeo LeBlanc, Governor-General of Canada 2003 Hipolito Mejia, President of the Dominican Republic 2007