Pacific Ocean Games

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The Pacific Ocean Games was a one-time multi-sport event for Pacific Rim countries, held in 1995 in Cali, Colombia, from June 23 to July 3. About 3,000 athletes from 38 nations competed in 13 sports. The main venue was Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero, with some events in Buenaventura and other Colombian cities. The games were led by Jorge Herrera Barona and opened by President Ernesto Samper. The opening ceremony featured Colombian music and dance, including a Leyenda de El Dorado ballet and a fashion show.

The event also marked the first Congress of National Olympic Committees of the Pacific Rim (ODECOP). Plans for future Games in 1999 (Santiago) and 2001 (Vancouver) were not realized, and the Games were dissolved after this edition. Colombia topped the medal table with 72 golds and 212 medals overall, far ahead of other nations, reflecting that many invited countries did not send their strongest teams. The Games built on earlier regional competitions but did not continue.