Odesur celebrates 48 years of South American Games history

The South American Sports Organization (Odesur) is marking 48 years of regional competition. Founded on March 27, 1976, in La Paz through a joint initiative by the governments of Bolivia and Argentina, the organization was established to promote sports across the Andean region and the Southern Cone.

The first games, known as the Cruz del Sur Sports Games, were held in La Paz from November 3 to 12, 1978, featuring 480 athletes from eight countries. Argentina emerged as the champion with 189 medals. The second edition took place in Rosario in 1982, where Argentina again led the medal count with 272 medals.

A significant rebranding occurred during the third edition in Santiago, Chile, in 1986. To align with the terminology of the Olympic circuit, such as the Pan American Games, the event was renamed the South American Games. Although Quito, Guayaquil, and Montevideo were initially considered, Santiago ultimately hosted the event with private sector support.