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Pan-American Sports Organization

PASO / ODEPA ; Organización Deportiva Panamericana ; Pan-American Games

image by Erik Bell, January 7, 2003

PASO / ODEPA flag and motto
Evolution of the PASO / ODEPA flag
Variants of the PASO / ODEPA flag
Pan American Games Organizing Committees

See also:

Other sites:

Pan-American Games Fan website

PASO / ODEPA flag and motto

The motto surrounding the Olympic rings states: "America Espirito Sport Fraternité"
Dean Thomas, March 23, 2002.

As the creator of the Pan American Games Fan Pages, I can contribute some information about the meaning of the symbols on the PASO flag. The Pan American Sports Organization Flag consists of the PASO logo on a white 1:2 proportioned field. The logo (adopted on 3/9/1954) consists of five concentric circles of yellow, green, white, red, and blue (from the center) around a light blue disc. A blazing torch is superimposed on the rings and disc. The colors of the rings can be found in the flags of the member nations. The games motto "America, Espirito, Sport, Fraternité" is emblazoned in black in a circle around the outer edge of the center disc. The motto is understood to mean "The American Spirit of Friendship Through Sports" The words appear in the 4 languages spoken in the Americas: Portuguese, French, Spanish, and English. The Olympic Rings were superimposed on the torch by PASO in October 1998 to symbolize the link with the Olympic Movement. The name of the organization, in English and Spanish appears in black letters along the bottom of the flag.

The PASO Flag also serves as the Ceremonial Flag at the Opening Ceremonies of the Pan American Games. Interestingly, the Olympic Flag is raised at Opening Ceremonies as well. There appear to be 2 versions used over the years, as the 1987 ceremonial flag displayed only the logo, while the 1991 ceremonial flag bore the logo and the PASO names in English and Spanish.

Erik Bell, Pan-American Games Fan website creator.

1951-1987

image by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, July 2005.

When the Ist Pan American Games were held in Buenos Aires in 1951, the Olympic Flag was used. The IOC objected strongly to this, and PASO adopted its own logo and flag in 1955 for the IInd Pan American Games.
Erik Bell, June 14, 2003.

1955-1987

image Erik Bell, January 7, 2003

This flag consisted of the PASO logo on a white 1:2 proportioned field. This design was used from 1955 thru 1987.
Erik Bell, June 14, 2003.

1991-1995

image Dean Thomas, March 23, 2002

Prior to the 1991 games the flag was altered. The name of the Organization was added in English and Spanish to the bottom of the flag. This design was used in 1991 and 1995.
Erik Bell, June 14, 2003.

1998 - Present

image Erik Bell, January 7, 2003

I finally was able to watch the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1999 Pan American Games which took place in Winnipeg. I was quite surprised to find that a new ceremonial PASO flag was used. I'm not sure if the flag design shown above was a one time only thing or if it is a permanent change.

The ceremonial flags at the 1967 and 1987 games only had the logo on them. The 1991 ceremonial flag had and the display flags in PASO's meeting room have the full name of the organization in Spanish and English on the bottom. (This is the flag that appears on my website and the one I submitted to FOTW.)

I do not know which design was used in 1995. The 1999 ceremonial flag displayed the logo on a white field. On either side of the logo's flame was ODEPA and PASO in large black letters. The names at the bottom was omitted. This was the first time the olympic rings appeared on the logo's torch after having been added in 1998.

In 1998, PASO voted to alter the flag again. This time the Olympic Rings were superimposed over the torch in the logo, and the English and Spanish initials of the organization were placed on either side of the flame on the torch. The text was dropped from the bottom of the flag. This design was first used at the 1999 games in Winnipeg.
Erik Bell, June 14, 2003.

Variant of the PASO / ODEPA flag

image Erik Bell, January 7, 2003

To further confuse matters, a second flag was resented to the mayor of Indianapolis by PASO President Mario Vazquez Raña during the Opening Ceremony of the 1987 games. This flag was the size of the flags used for the parade of nations, but was not attached to a pole. The flag had the logo on a white field with ODEPA in large black letters above the flame, and PASO curved underneath the logo. This flag was not used in 1991 or 1999.
Erik Bell, January 7, 2003.

image Erik Bell, April 13, 2003

This os the photo of the smaller 1987 PASO Flag. Indianapolis Mayor William Hudnut is shown holding the flag as PASO President Mario Vasquez Rana looks on during the Opening Ceremony.
Erik Bell, April 11, 2003.

It should be cleanly drawn letters similar to the ODEPA. I just couldn't figure out how to draw the letters that way at an angle. The picture I've seen of it (in the official commemorative book of the 1987 games) shows the PA on one side of the torch handle and the SO on the other. Both are curved around the bottom edge of the disc. The letters PASO appear to be slightly smaller than the ODEPA above the flag. In fact, the letters ODEPA are slightly bolder. Its hard to describe. I wish I could scan the photo but I don't have a scanner. The letters ODEPA look "squashed". That is, they appear slightly wider compared to their height than you would expect.
This flag appears to have been used the way the Oslo and Antwerp Flags are used at the Olympics and Winter Olympics. Now that I think about it, this flag may have appeared at the closing ceremony of the 1999 games. PASO President Mario Vázquez Raña, in his closing speech, asked the Mayor of Winnipeg to present the PASO flag to the Mayor of Santo Domingo. The two mayors exchanged something that looked like a white handkerchief, which might have been this flag folded up into a small square. I know it wasn't the ceremonial flag because it hadn't been lowered yet. I hope this helps.
Erik Bell, January 7, 2003.

Pan American Games Organizing Committees

1967 Pan American Games Organizing Committee
1987 Pan American Games Organizing Committee

1967 Pan American Games Organizing Committee

image Erik Bell, April 12, 2003.

This is the Flag of the 1967 Pan American Games Society (organizing committee). This flag consisted of the 1967 Games logo in red and white centered on a blue field.
I should mention that the 1967 Games logo on the Pan American Games Society Flag was designed in a competition and that it represents a runner wearing a racing bib.
Erik Bell, April 12, 2003.

1987 Pan American Games Organizing Committee

image Erik Bell, April 12, 2003.

Above, the Flag of the 1987 organizing committee, PAX-I. It consists of the 1987 Games logo in black on the hoist with the words:

The Tenth
Pan American Games
Indianapolis
7-23 August 1987

In black next to it, all on a white field. The fly consists of six colored stripes. From the hoist toward the fly they are Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Blue.

Erik Bell, April 12, 2003.