FAQ: Lima 2019 Pan American Games
From July 26 to August 11, the capital of Peru will host the 2019 Pan American Games.
From events to athletes to Olympic qualifications, here are the answers to your most frequently asked questions about Lima 2019.
To learn more about Lima 2019 visit our page dedicated to the Pan American Games HERE.
What are the Pan American Games?
The Pan Am Games are a continental multi-sport event for countries in North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. The Pan Am Games are held every four years, in the year leading up to the Olympic Summer Games.
Find out how the Pan American Games began, who has hosted the Pan Ams in the past and Canada’s history at the Games HERE.
How big are the Pan American Games?
Behind only the Olympic Summer Games and the Asian Games, the Pan Am Games are the third largest multi-sport competition in the world.
More than 6600 athletes will participate in 39 sports, across approximately 416 events – that’s 77 more events than what will take place the next Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020.
What sports are at the Pan Am Games?
Bethany Zelasko competes at the Surf Canada Nationals in May 2018. (Photo credit: Marcus Paladino)
The Pan American Games include all sports and disciplines on the core summer Olympic program, as well as other sports governed by international federations recognized by the IOC.
The complete list of Pan Am only sports includes:
- Roller Artistic Skating
- Basque Pelota
- Bodybuilding
- Bowling
- Extreme Slalom Canoe
- Racquetball
- Roller Speed Skating
- Squash
- Taekwondo Poomsae
- Water Ski and Wakeboard
Karate was a Pan Am sport that will be introduced into Olympic competition next summer at Tokyo 2020 where baseball and softball will be returning to the Olympic program.
Women’s wakeboard will make its Pan Am Games debut at Lima 2019.
Which events serve as qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games?
Some 2019 Pan American Games competitions serve directly as Olympic qualifiers for next year in Tokyo. You can find all of those sports and events HERE.
Get up to speed with events that Canada has already qualified for using our Tokyo 2020 Qualification Tracker.
What is the competition schedule of the Lima Games?
Milco, the mascot for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. (Photo credit: COPAL)
The Lima 2019 Pan American Games will kick off with the opening ceremony on July 26 and will conclude with the closing ceremony on August 11.
You can find the complete calendar of competitions on the official Lima 2019 website here.
How many Canadian athletes will participate in the 2019 Lima Games?
For Team Canada there will be 477 (280 women, 197 men) athletes traveling to Lima for the Pan American Games!
Get to know the Team Canada athletes competing at Lima 2019 HERE.
What are Team Canada’s top achievements at Pan Ams?
Canada has participated in every Pan American Games except the first one which took place in Argentina in 1951. Let’s take a step back in history and see what Canada’s outstanding records at the Pan Am Games are:
Most career medals by an athlete:
19 – Joanne Malar – Swimming (1991-2003)
Most medals by an athlete at one Games:
8 – Willie Weiler – Gymnastics (1963)
Most gold medals by an athletes at one Games
4 – Ernestine Russell (1959, Gymnastics), Jessica Deglau (1999, Swimming), Geng Lijuan (1995, Table Tennis)
Team Canada’s total Pan Am Games medals:
1920 (including 450 gold)
Team Canada’s most medals won in a sport:
304 – Swimming
Are there any Olympic medallists on the team?
The complete list of Canadian Olympic medallists heading to Lima includes:
- Brendon Rodney– Athletics
- Bolade Ajomale– Athletics
- Damian Warner– Athletics
- Jason Burnett– Gymnastics – Trampoline
- Jennifer Abel– Diving
- Katerine Savard– Swimming
- Kayla Moleschi– Rugby
- Meaghan Benfeito– Diving
- Phylicia George– Athletics
Who is Canada’s flag bearer?
Graphic presenting Scott Tupper’s announcement to be Canada’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.
Field hockey captain Scott Tupper will carry the flag for Canada at the Opening Ceremony in Lima.
This two-time Olympian and three-time Pan Am Games medallist is considered one of the best field hockey players in Canadian history. He has been on the National Men’s Field Hockey Team for 14 years, and has been a team captain for half of that time.
At Lima 2019, Tupper and his teammates are also on the hunt for Olympic qualification as the top-ranked team in each of the men’s and women’s field hockey tournaments will be awarded a ticket to Tokyo.
How many medals could Canada win?
Canada celebrates gold in the final game against USA at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
At the last Pan Am Games in Toronto 2015, Team Canada won a total of 219 medals (78 gold, 70 silver, 71 bronze).
However, there were two key differences between Lima and the last Pan Am Games. The 2015 Games were hosted at home, giving athletes extra support from family and friends, along with a home crowd. In addition, the team size was larger with a total of 715 athletes compared to the 477 athletes heading to Peru.
What time is it in Lima?
Centro de Lima, plaza mayor in located in Lima, Peru.
Fortunately for Canadians, Lima is only one hour behind Eastern Time (ET), and two hours ahead of Pacific Time (PT).
Here’s an example for you: If an event is at noon in Lima, it will be at 1:00pm in Toronto and 10:00am in Vancouver.
Where can I watch the Pan Am Games?
Alanna Goldie, Canada, fences Saskia Loretta Van Erven Garcia in the semi-final match at in the Women’s Foil event at the Pan-Am Games in Toronto Ontario. Goldie lost the bout and took home the bronze medal.
Starting with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 26 at 7:50pm ET (4:50pm PT) you can watch the Lima Pan Am Games live from morning to night each day on cbcsports.ca & the CBC Sports app.
You can also follow Team Canada on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening in Lima.
