The XVIII Bolivarian Games are currently underway in Santa Marta, Colombia, with the handball competition set to throw off today. The multi-sport event began on November 11 and will conclude on the 25th, with a total of 46 disciplines contested including various Olympic sports such as triathlon, swimming, volleyball, different martial arts, equestrian and athletics.

 

The handball competition will run from November 20 to 24, with six nations contesting the women’s event and five vying for the men’s title. Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Paraguay and Venezuela will play the women’s competition, while Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Venezuela will take the court for the men’s.

 

The Bolivarian Games are organised by the Bolivarian Sports Organisation in honour of Simon Bolivar, who played a crucial role in leading the nations of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama to independence in the early 19th century. The Games were held for the first time in 1938 in Colombia and were organised with some irregularity before 1973, when a four-year cycle was established.

 

Handball was first played at the 2013 edition, organised in Trujillo, Peru. In the round-robin competition, Venezuela claimed the men’s gold medal ahead of Colombia, and Guatemala placed third in front of Ecuador. Paraguay won the women’s title, while Chile ranked second, Venezuela finished third and Guatemala placed fourth.

 

More information on the handball competition at the XVIII Bolivarian Games can be found here.