ABSTRACT
In this chapter the development of multisport games in South America is discussed. Although these games have existed since 1936, with the first edition of the Bolivarian Games in Bogota, Colombia (López, 2005), many of these games are still unknown around the world. It is important to remark that South America, as a region, has hosted for decades important and well-known single and multisport mega sporting events, such as several editions of the FIFA World Cup (e.g. Uruguay 1930; Brazil 1950; Chile 1962; Argentina 1978; and, most recently, Brazil 2014); several editions of the Pan American Games (e.g. Buenos Aires 1951; Sao Paulo 1963; Cali 1971; Caracas 1983; Mar del Plata 1995; and Rio de Janeiro 2007), and multiple editions of the Copa America, which is the football cup of South American nations and the oldest of its kind in the world (Bravo, 2012).
