1990 Winter Pan American Games

The 1990 Winter Pan American Games, also called Las Leñas 1990, were a special sports event held in Las Leñas, Argentina, from September 16 to September 22, 1990. These games were the very first and only Winter Pan American Games ever held.

During the games, 97 athletes from eight different countries came together to compete. They took part in just one sport: alpine skiing. This event gave winter athletes from across the Americas a chance to compete against one another in a warm and exciting location.

Sport

The 1990 Winter Pan American Games featured one sport: alpine skiing. Athletes competed in three different alpine skiing events: slalom skiing, giant slalom, and Super-G.

Venue

All the games happened at the Las Leñas Ski resort in Mendoza Province. This was the only place where the athletes competed.

Game highlights

In 1988, leaders decided to hold the first Winter Pan American Games in Las Leñas, Argentina, in September 1989. However, because there wasn’t enough snow, the games were delayed until September 1990. Only eight countries sent 97 athletes to compete.

On September 16, a special ceremony began the games. An athlete named Aristeo Benavídez lit a special flame, marking the start of the competition. Because the weather was warm and there still wasn’t much snow, only three skiing races could be held. The United States and Canada won all the medals that year.