2011 Pan American Games torch relay

Host cityGuadalajara, Mexico
Distance15,000 km
Torch bearers3,500
Start dateAugust 26, 2011
End dateOctober 14, 2011
Pan American Sports Organization Flag
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2011 Pan American Games

The 2011 Pan American Games torch relay was a 50-day torch run, from August 26–October 14, 2011, held prior to the 2011 Pan American Games. Plans for the relay were originally announced July 6, 2011 by the Guadalajara Organizing Committee for the 2011 Pan American and Parapan American Games (COPAG).[1] The relay brought the torch from Mexico City to the Estadio Omnilife for the Opening Ceremony. The flame arrived just in time for the opening ceremony.[2]

The relay took the torch through all 32 Mexican states on a 50-day route starting on August 26, 2011, at the pyramids of Teotihuacan outside Mexico City.[3] The Pan American flame was lit in the Pyramid of the Sun, the spot selected by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). The relay was organized by the Mexican Olympic Committee and was sponsored by Grupo Omnilife, a nutrition company.[2][3] The first torch was carried by Pan American Games gold medalist Paola Longoria.[4] The relay began with a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the 2011 Monterrey casino attack.[5] About 3,500 runners carried the torch on the 15,000-kilometer route. The torch arrived in Puerto Vallarta on October 9, Ciudad Guzmán on October 11, Tapalpa on October 12, Lagos de Moreno on October 13 and Guadalajara on October 14 for the opening ceremony at the Estadio Omnilife.[2]

The torch was designed by Vatti, the same company that designed the torch for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The design depicted green agave leaves with blue and white accents. The leaves surrounded and protected the flame. Each torch was 70 centimetres (28 in) tall and weighed 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb), including the fuel canister, which contained enough fuel for 12 minutes.[3]

  1. ^ "Guadalajara desveló la antorcha a cien días de los Juegos Panamericanos". Que (in Spanish). July 6, 2011. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Pan Am Games Update June 2011". Focus on Mexico. May 30, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c COPAG (April 15, 2011). "Pan American Spirit to Light up Mexico". Guadalajara2011.org. Retrieved June 16, 2011.[dead link]
  4. ^ "El fuego panamericano calienta la República". Informador.com.mx (in Spanish). August 28, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  5. ^ "Somber Start to Pan Am Torch Relay". Around the Rings. August 29, 2011. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2009.