GUADALAJARA, MEXICO, Oct. 13 -- The 16th Pan American Games will open on Friday in the Mexican city of Guadalajara and run until Oct. 30. It is the third time that Mexico hosts the Games.

Pan American Games, also known as "Pan Am Games", is the second largest multi-sport gala in the world after the Summer Olympics.

The organization includes the international sports federations, the National Olympics Committees recognized by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) and the committee for each Pan American Games. PASO is affiliated to the International Olympics Committee (IOC).

The first Pan Am Games were held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951. Its symbol is the PASO flag with the motto "The American Spirit of Friendship Through Sports," which is appeared in four languages spoken in the Americas: Portuguese, French, Spanish and English.

Pan Am Games include 36 sports, 40 disciplines and about 400 events. The previous edition of these games was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2007. The next Pan Am games will be celebrated in Toronto, Canada in 2017.

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