5th Pan American Games, Winnipeg, CA. Winnipeg Information Pamphlet. Pan-Am at a Glance, pamphlet – The Pan American Games are the “Olympics of the Western Hemisphere.” and are staged every four years, one year prior to the world Olympic Games. The Pan-American Games were first held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951, then Mexico City in 1955, Chicago in 1959, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1963. Thirty-three countries are eligible to compete and at least 25 will enter the Fifth Games.