Cali, Colombia
July 30 – August 13, 1971
Cali, Colombia, the City of Eternal Spring, located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, hosted the VI Pan American Games. The highlight of the opening ceremony was a synchronized dance routine involving 12,000 young girls dressed in native costumes. A total of 2,935 athletes from 32 countries took part in 17 sports. The U.S. basketball team was surprised when it lost to Cuba in the preliminary round and was eliminated from the medals.
Colombian artist Alejandro Obregón created this image in honor of the Games. Born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1920, Obregón is known for his expressionist images relying on signs and symbols of Latin American culture. The abstract design reveals three figures based on the logo of the Games. The logo was derived from a native South American symbol.