The VIII South American Games (Spanish: Juegos Sudamericanos; Portuguese: Jogos Sul-Americanos) were a multi-sport event held from 9 to 19 November 2006 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with some events taking place in Mar del Plata (canoeing, cycling, futsal, handball, roller sports, rowing, triathlon). An appraisal of the games and detailed medal lists were published elsewhere, emphasizing the results of the Argentinian teams.
The Games were organized by the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR), who awarded the Games to the city with 10 votes over the bids by previous hosts Cuenca, Ecuador (3 votes) and Lima, Peru (1 vote).
The Games were originally awarded to the first edition host La Paz, Bolivia, but this decision was retracted following domestic instability in Bolivia during 2005. This country did not participate in the subsequent selection process after ODESUR denied its request to reconsider the decision.
Torch lighter at the Estadio del Parque Roca was multiple Olympic medalist, windsurfer Carlos Espínola.
Venues
Buenos Aires
CeNARD - Athletics, Weightlifting, Judo, Wrestling, Taekwondo, Field Hockey and Swimming. Club Atlético River Plate - Table Tennis. Federación Argentina de Boxeo - Boxing. Estadio Mary Terán de Weiss - Tennis. Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires - Fencing. Tiro Federal - Shooting. Parque Polideportivo Roca - Archery Buenos Aires Yacht Club - Sailing. Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield - Karate, Bocce. Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires - Gymnastics. San Lorenzo de Almagro - Artistic roller skating. Lake of the Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez - Waterskiing.
Mar del Plata
Polideportivo Islas Malvinas - Handball and Futsal. Laguna de los Padres - Canoeing and Rowing. Patinódromo Municipal - Inline speed skating.
Other areas
Capilla del señor - Equestrian. Avellaneda - Bowling. Zarate - Open water swimming.
Medal Count
The medal count for these Games is tabulated below. This table is sorted by the number of gold medals earned by each country. The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next, and then the number of bronze medals.
Sports
Archery
Athletics†
Badminton
Baseball
Boxing
Canoeing
Cycling
Equestrian
Fencing
Field Hockey
Football
Gymnastics
Handball
Judo
Softball
Rowing
Modern Pentathlon
Sailing
Shooting
Swimming
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
Tennis‡
Triathlon
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Wrestling
Notes
†: The competition was reserved to representatives aged under 23.
‡: The competition was reserved to junior representatives (U-20).