XV Pan American Games Rio 2007
June 28, 2007 by Sasha Manuel
Filed under Sports Rumors
It’s going to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 15 July 2007. Their Torch Relay is even underway.
According to articles I’ve come across, the US are sending American Triathletes to the Pan American Games.
The 2007 Pan Ams team is as follows (U.S finish places appear below):
Women
Julie Swail (Irvine, Calif.) – 1st at Honolulu; 3rd at Des Moines
Sarah Haskins (St. Louis, Mo. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) – 2nd at Honolulu; 2nd at Des Moines
Sara McLarty (Deland, Fla. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) – 4th at Honolulu; 3rd at Des Moines
Alternate: Margaret Shapiro (Annandale, Va.)Men
Andy Potts (Princeton, N.J. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) – 1st at Honolulu; 4th at Des Moines
Jarrod Shoemaker (Sudbury, Mass.) – 3rd at Honolulu; 1st at Des Moines
Brian Fleischmann (Jacksonville, Fla. / Colorado Springs, Colo.) – 2nd at Honolulu; 6th at Des Moines
Alternate: Joe Umphenour (Bellevue, Wash. / Colorado Springs, Colo.)
You can read the press release on these sites:
Inside Triathlon
Runner’s and Triathlete’s Web News
Rio 2007 good games,like olimpics games
My son is a member of the United States delegation. He was honored and excited to have been selected. Since he left a few days ago to join his team I have Googled and searched for news about the games. I have not been able to find one single positive news article or even comment about the games or our team of athletes. These individuals have trained all of their lives to be at an event like this. Not only are they “hated” by most of the other countries; our own country has abandoned them and does not seem willing to be supportive or positive in any way. Personally, I am concerned for my son’s safety in Rio because I have read nothing but articles about potential acts of terrorism or violence, articles about the police force going on strike or passionate anti-American sentiment related to the idiotic “Congo” incident. What has happened to our spirit as a nation? Why is it that we appear to be our own worst enemy?
I know that our athletes respect and admire their competition whatever country they might be from. They are excited about having this opportunity to compete against athletes form other nations. I hope that all of our athletes in every event, young and old, male and female have the greatest possible success during their Pan American Games experience.
To Mr. Bruchac: as a Brazilian, I can say we don´t hate US people. We respect you and, in Pan American games, US athletes and teams. What we don´t like are some US government atitudes and positions, as those in environmental issues or in making unnaceptable wars without respectable and true reasons, in a clear lack of respect to other countries freedom.
Rio has its violence problems and we´re concerned about them, but it is far from this war scenario newspaper use do describe. I´m sure your son will be back home safe.
I wish success to him (besides I hope Brazilian athletes win :-))
Thank you for you response Henrique. That is what I expected from the Brazilian people. You are a great nation and as a soccer fan I would have to say perhaps the greatest (so far!) My family admires your culture and your national sport. Thank you for your kind words and congratulations on your victory in the Copa America.
Nobody in the world is ashamed to lose a soccer match to Brazil ( I think that most likely everyone in the world has!)
I agree that the media is unfair to your country and my son reports that he is having a great time and feels welcomed. As for our government…let’s just say that he was only elected by half of our people. Thank you again.
I’m also Brazilian and I’m shocked how the US news don’t say a word about the Pan American games. US has the first place, and the American athletes seem not to be recognized by their own country.
The “Congo episode” was sad! I’m used to hear things like that… But we can not stereotype and hate all Americans just because of this. Regarding the government issues, I agree with Henrique, but as Bruchac said: “he was only elected by half of our people”.
To Mr. Bruchac: First, i’m sorry for my english!!!I am Brazilian and I can affirm you that the Brazilian people receives very well all the peoples and nations, with no way of discriminations, differentt from any off you!!I’m sorry, but it’s really!!!! I´m sure your son will be back home safe too and he will comprove that here in Brazil, we are a good peolple.
Fortunate are those who get first hand news of this event, despite the media boycott in many countries. The Pan American Games is the greatest sport competition in the Americas and one of the greatest of the world after the Olimpics. Right now also there is the All Africa Games going on, with more than 50 countries participating for one month, and very few hear about them.
Unfortunately, again we are forced to recognize that the political and economic interests of some greedy self-centered mercenaries are the reason behind such mistreat of these very important games for thousands of athletes. It is well known that Rio de Janeiro is bidding for hosting the Olimpic Games in 2016, as well as Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Doha. The success of this Pan American Games is giving a boost to the candidacy of Rio de Janeiro, and certainly most media vehicles in US and Europe were well “directed” not to give a good coverage for these Games. Check on the web, and you will see that most of the agencies and vehicles providing news for these games are either from South America, Asia or Africa, with very rare exceptions of more independent channels from economically wealthier countries.
As it has happened many times in history, political and economic interests are constantly interfering with the success of sports competitions (we all remeber the boycotts in the “Cold War”).
However, despite all these hidden motives working behind the scenes, the Pan American Games have been well played and very fun to follow. For many atheletes this is the only chance besides the Olimpics to compete with the presence of thousands of athletes from so many countries, and this creates a completely different atmosphere than the one sport events they are used to. It is also a channel for promoting the practice of unknown sports to children and youth, since many countries have no tradition in many Olimpic sports. Also it is an opportunity to practice world interchange and integration, which enrich the cultural experience of sportists, delegations and the audience alike. But all these reasons seemingly do not impress those who have chosen to close themselves into a narrow egotistic world and, moreover, to keep the maximum number of people under their umbrella oblivious and ignorant of these highly spirited games which so many are greatly enjoying now.
Regarding the unfriendly relations with US citizens reported by the media, only first hand experience most often show these to be twisted and narrow information. Brazilian people are very hospitable and become easily friends with citizens from any country. None fo the athletes or visitors are “hated” as the sensacionalist media like to picture. But certainly there is a lot of anger building up since long, over centuries, against the montruous and feared ghosts of the imperialism — so any chances to express these feelings against any “faces” or “representants” of this exploitation machine will be utilized. Actually the hope of the people is that their feedback reaches the machine-men, that the atheletes and delegates somwehow echo the noisy voices back there in their home base country, where the decisions to ignore the dignity of humanity are taken. Historically Brazilians have been (comparing to other countries) way too pacific and passive to threaten its exploiters. But these reactions which have been suppressed for generations are nowadays simply showing up as “booos” of discontentment. It is rather a very cheap price to enjoy the wonders of the “paradisical New World” (as the conquerors liked to call the newly “discovered” American continent).
As already commented before here, the protests of the public are mostly against the government and the blood-sucking corporations which use the flag and name of US for unhuman activities, and NOT against the atheltes, whom are welcome to Brazil, despite all the difficulties the country faces to win over the historical condition of being an exploited colony, rampant with corruption and inequality.
Atheletes and citizens from US shouldn’t mistaken these manifestations as personal attacks, but rather educate themselves on the effects their governors’ and devil economic elite’s actions have created in the hearts of people around the world.
Abstaining from responsibility simply because half of US people are not voters is, to say the least, selfishness and ignorance. Non-voters justify their inability to influence in their countries’ acts, but suck from, aspire for and depend on the luxuries of the capitalistic and individualistic lifestyle which their evil representants provide them with. Perhaps there is some degree of “hatred” against “those barbarian, uncivilized and undeveloped people whow we wish to enslave” undercovered in such attitude… Action and reaction somehow…
About safety in Rio de Janeiro, there is no need to worry, as the authorities in Brasil have worried more than enough about that for any relatives of the athletes there. They know very well that these Games are a big issue of their own image in the country, so they are using more than enough resources to make sure that some image of security is created (at least during the games…).
P.S. Sorry for spelling and grammar mistakes in the last commnets. It should have been OLYMPIC games (not “Olimpic”) and the Pan American games have been MUCH fun to follow (not “very” fun).
You put it very well Paulo… and it was good to know “why” the media in US doesnt talk about the Pan American Games… it was funny when I asked my step-father (he’s American) if he had any idea why here in US they dont care about these games… and he answered: “aw probably because we’re all too busy working…”
I agree with what you have said Paolo and I am impressed by the other responses to my post. Our country behaves like a spoiled teenager on the world stage and I can only hope that we will outgrow that as a people. My son had the time of his life in Rio. He was treated with kindness and respect.
Hi,
As a Carioca that lives in the US for more than 13 yrs and admires many aspects of this country, I’m still amazed by the lack of understanding that the US in general has for other cultures and countries (Iraque war is a good example of this…), and the absolute lack of media coverage of the Pan American Games in the US (or any other major sport event ) is just another example. When I want to hear important world issues I listen to BBC, otherwise all you get is a continuous coverage in CNN/Fox of Barry Bonds, Paris Hilton and now M. Vicks scandals, I’m sure all very important and relevant news to report….
The bad news is that for the next 2 yrs I don’t see any major change in these policies, the good news is that many Americans are now becoming more and more aware of worlwide events and maybe next Pan American Games we will have a decent coverage.
Robert Kennedy was already aware of these issues, when in 1964 he said: “the US represents only 6% of the worlds population and we have to be more integrated to the world…”
as for the athletes, Americans, Brazilians, Canadians or Cubans, is just fantastic to see what they can accomplish, and the Games are all about them, not Government policies or interests.
By the way, Rio my birthplace is one of the 3 most beautiful cities in the world, and yes, it has a high crime rate (and a President as bad as the one we have here…), but also a population that always receives you “de bracos abertos”(with their arms open). As a mater of fact, the large majority of Americans that visit Brazil, love it and want to come back, you know why?
because people really want to know you and exchange information and experiences, it’s not all about business and money…believe me, it makes a diference in your day to day…but, it might also be for the “caipirinhas” (national drink), the beautiful beaches and women, the food, but who knows?
go and visit Brazil, and you will find out !
To everyone,
I’m from a different state in Brazil, came here thinking that it would be very scary.Wrong!!!Of course there’s violece but they happen in certain places and between drug dealers.The rest is like in any normal country or town, where we can never take chances.
About hating americans… it’s just a negative image many people have due politics, but it’s far from hurting any american athlete.
This is for Andy e todos os brasileiros que responderam a acusacoes feitas sobre o Brasil. Brasil foi, e’ , e sempre sera’ um pais de paz . Esta e’ a primeira vez que escuto falar em TERRORISMO!!!!!!!!…. No brasil ? I DON’T THINK SO ! Realmente certas pessoas nao conhecem ,nunca leram e talvez nem saibam onde fica este pais tao maravilhoso !!! Mas temos que levar em consideraca que a geografia nao e’ o “PRATO” preferido aqui em US,
digasse de passagem ,nao sou eu que
acho ,sao os proprios americanos… Quanto a violencia ,nao cheguei a uma conclusao,! sera’ que aqui e’ menos ?????!!!!!!!A todos os brasucas “AQUELE ABRACO”
This is for Andy e todos os brasileiros que responderam a acusacoes feitas sobre o Brasil. Brasil foi, e’ , e sempre sera’ um pais de paz . Esta e’ a primeira vez que escuto falar em TERRORISMO!!!!!!!!…. No brasil ? I DON’T THINK SO ! Realmente certas pessoas nao conhecem ,nunca leram e talvez nem saibam onde fica este pais tao maravilhoso !!! Mas temos que levar em consideraca que a geografia nao e’ o “PRATO” preferido aqui em US,
digasse de passagem ,nao sou eu que
acho ,sao os proprios americanos… Quanto a violencia ,nao cheguei a uma conclusao,! sera’ que aqui e’ menos ?????!!!!!!!A todos os brasucas “AQUELE ABRACO” SE QUIZER TRADUZIR P/ O INGLES …TRADUZAM
AMERICAM PEAPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND LERN MORE ABOUT BRASIL !!!!!!!!
To everyone,
I’m from Brazil, I live in Belo Horizonte, MG State, near Rio de Janeiro. I’m here to tell you some news about PAN AMERICAN GAMES RIO 2007. First of all, I’d like to express my profoundly desapointment to the young US athlete who wrote that sentece “WELCOME TO THE CONGO”. I know this is not the oppinion of all american people and I hope everyone be different from him.
About PAN, we have to know the realy truth. My country decided to receive this competition in a hopefull way to show to the world we are able to do big things. And WE REALY ARE. I’m not trying to afirm we are better than other nations, but only we are able to do big things as they can do.
The PAN was great in numbers, great in passion, great in peace, great in people. All the athletes, of all nations, gave their best for the competition. They ran, they played, they won…. they became heroes here. I know there are many difficulties here. There is a violence question. The poverty too…. but tell me where this is not an actual question? I realy hope the athletes of all countries enjoied been here!
As a brazilian citizen, I apologize all the foreign athletes families for the bad news you eventualy received and I can afirm you that Brazil is a wonderful place to visit and live. Not only Rio de Janeiro, but all of our states.
In the end of PAN, I’m realy proud of Brazil for doing this competition in a most higher level of competence and respect for brazilian people and for foreigners. I’m proud of all the other nations that was here too. They proved us how the sport is stronger and how its powered to change everything. The poverty can become less and less with pacticing some sport and fighting for the spirit of victory.
You are everyone invited to come here and visit Brazil, not only in a big competition like PAN. We have many wonderful things to show, as you have to show us, too.
I hope in GUADALAJARA 2011, the world can see this competition more clearly.
Thanks for everyone!
Ubirajara Neiva
Belo Horizonte/MG/Brazil
I am a Scotsman who was one of six security runners who escorted the Pan Am Flame around Brazil prior to the start of the Games. We visited 42 cities and executed 50+ relays and all I can say is Brazil is an amazing country, Brazillians are amazing people and when I left for home I felt I was leaving brothers and sisters behind.