The Pan American Games

XV Pan American Games Qualifiers
July 13-29, 2007
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

Men	Women
Brazil Host	Brazil Host
Argentina 2006 ODESUR Games Champion	Argentina 2006 ODESUR Games Champion
Chile 2006 ODESUR Games 2nd Place	Chile 2006 ODESUR Games 2nd Place
Cuba 2006 CAC Champ	Cuba 2006 CAC Champ
Trinidad & Tobago 2006 CAC 2nd Place	Netherlands Antilles 2006 CAC 6 2nd Place
Canada Highest ranked team at the 2004 Pan American Cup not otherwise qualified	USA Highest ranked team at the 2004 Pan American Cup not otherwise qualified
Netherlands Antilles Second highest ranked team at the 2004 Pan American Cup not otherwise qualified	Canada Second highest ranked team at the 2004 Pan American Cup not otherwise qualified
USA Winner of best-of-three playoff vs. Mexico	Uruguay Third highest ranked team at the 2004 Pan American Cup not otherwise qualified

The Pan American Games

Held every four years during the summer preceding the Olympic Games, the Pan American Games present a showcase of world-class talent on a continental stage.

Competing in events ranging from traditional Olympic sports and disciplines to other internationally recognized sports such as bowling, karate and water skiing, over 5,000 athletes from 42  North American, South American, Central American and Caribbean countries will gather at the XV Pan American Games, July 13-29, 2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In the sport of field hockey, the Pan American Games also serve as a qualifying event for the next year's Olympic Games. The Pan American champion in both the men's and women's events join other continental champions, survivors of Olympic qualifying tournaments and the host nation in completing the men's and women's tournament fields at the Olympic Games.

The United States has competed in the field hockey competition in every Pan American Games since the sport first became part of the men's program in 1967 and women's program in 1987.

Who Qualifies?

Men and women's field hockey teams qualify for the Pan American Games based on procedures approved by the Pan American Hockey Federation Board of Directors.

• Host country
• The first and second placed countries at the ODESUR Games (minimum of four countries participating).
• The first and second placed countries at the Central American and Caribbean Games (minimum of four countries participates).
• Two countries not already qualified under paragraphs 1 - 3 above, based on final rankings at the Pan American Cup.
• The eighth country will be determined after the conclusion of the 2006 ODESUR Games or the 20th CAC Games (whichever is held later). Should Canada (women) or USA (men) NOT have qualified under the procedure outlined in paragraphs 1 - 4 above, then that men's and/or women's team will play a three-match series at a neutral venue against the men's or women's country which would have qualified for the Pan American Games as a third country in accordance with paragraph 4 above, with the winner filling the eighth (8th) place in the respective men's or women's tournament.

The Games Begin

The idea of a Pan American Games evolved in 1932 when the South American delegation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) proposed the formation of a regional competition to promote amateur sports in the Americas. In 1940, 16 countries met in Buenos Aires, Argentina to form the Pan American Sports Committee and began plans to hold the first Pan American Games in Buenos Aires in 1942.

After World War II postponed the original Pan American Games, a second congress was held in London at the 1948 Olympic Games to reaffirm the commitment to the regional event. In 1952, the first Pan American Games opened in Buenos Aires with 2,500 athletes from 22 countries.

The Pan America Sports Committee was renamed the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) in 1955 and is headquartered in Mexico City.