This past August PASA President Maile Aguerre met with the Minister of Sports, National Secretary, Mr. Andre Arantes and the Executive Secretary of the Mangament of the Pan American Games, Mr. Ricardo Leyser Gonçalves, in Brasilia, Brazil’s Capital.

In this meeting they discussed the possibility of putting on a demonstration of a surfing competition on the Cultural Program of the Pan American Games, Rio 2007.

The next Pan American Games will be held in July, 2007 in the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Pan American village and most of the events will be held in Barra de Tijuca, which is located at the southern end of the city.

In 1994, the International Surfing Association held its World Championships at the beach in Barra de Tijuca, (where the Pan American Games will be held) with great success.

Due to the success of the ISA’s World Championships, three years later, in 1997, Brazil once again became the host to a major surfing event. Pan American Surf Association held their III Pan American Surfing Games at the same beach in the Barra de Tijuca.

The Pan American Games is the biggest and most important multi sport event after the Olympic Games.
More than 40 countries participate in this event.

To be able to participate in the Pan American Games, a sport first needs to be recognized by the Pan American Sport Organization, (PASO).

PASA is in the process of fulfilling the requirements to meet the criteria to become recognized by PASO and
eventually participate in the prestigious Pan American Games.

Until this dream becomes a reality, PASA will keep working towards this goal, a goal that will benefit not only the surfers of the Americas, but of all the world. If surfing participates in the Pan American Games, it is one step further closer to the Olympic Games.

PASA will keep you abreast to the progress of this quest for recognition by PASO and participation in the Pan American Games.