The 17th Pan American Games gets underway here Friday with host nation Canada dreaming of mounting a strong challenge to the podium pecking order by traditional regional superpowers the United States and Cuba.

The third largest multi-sports event in the world after the Olympics and Asian Games, the PanAm Games bring together thousands of athletes from throughout the Americas in 36 different sports.

Looming world championships in athletics and swimming mean that the July 10-26 extravaganza is missing the star power that accompanies the Olympics, although several Olympic champions in other sports are participating.

The US delegation will travel to Canada with 623 athletes including stars such as double Olympic gold medallist fencer Mariel Zagunis and two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Steven Lopez.

The Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin will compete in the long jump after finishing fourth in the US Championships last month.

Canada however is hoping home advantage can propel it to first place on the medal standings, emulating the success of hosts Argentina in 1951 and Cuba 40 years later, the only occasions when the United States failed to top the table.
The minimum objective for Canada is to exceed the 64 gold medals it won at the Winnipeg games in 1999 games, the last time it hosted the event.

However the Canadians face an uphill battle if they are to overhaul the Americans, who won 92 titles in Mexico four years ago.

Canada's main medal hope is distance swimmer Ryan Cochrane, a silver medallist at the London Olympics in 2012.

Cuba meanwhile will attempt to retain their usual spot of second in the medals table, hoping to excel in traditional strong suits such as boxing, judo, athletics, wrestling and taekwondo.

Several Olympic medallists will be in the Cuban delegation including Mijain Lopez (wrestling), Idalys Ortiz (judo), Roniel Iglesias (boxing) and Leuris Pupo (shooting).

The Cubans however will be nervously looking over their shoulders at the challenge posed by Brazil, who are determined to mount a strong challenge in Canada as they prepare for next year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilians deposed Argentina from fourth spot in the medals table four years ago and this time have set their sights on finishing in the top three.

An estimated television audience of 380 million will tune in for Friday's opening ceremony, where performers from Canada's famous Cirque du Soleil will be among those getting proceedings under way.
Source: AFP