title: 1959 Pan American Games
text: The 1959 Pan American Games were held in Chicago, Illinois, United States between August 28 and September 7, 1959.
  
  Host city selection 
  
  One city initially submitted a bid to host the 1959 Pan American Games that was recognized by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), along with three cities that withdrew their bids. On March 11, 1955, at the IV Pan American Congress in Mexico City, PASO selected Cleveland unanimously to host the III Pan American Games.
  
  On April 15, 1957, Cleveland asked PASO to be relieved of their assignment as the host city. Subsequently, both Guatemala City and Rio de Janeiro informed PASO that they would not be able to host the games either. Two cities came forward as candidates host the games, Chicago and São Paulo, and on August 3, 1957, Chicago was selected over São Paulo by a vote of 13 to 6.
  
  Organization
  Once Chicago took over the game following Cleveland's withdrawal, there were 18 months left to organize the games. The games were held on-schedule nonetheless. The games were the first Pan American Games to be held in the  Northern Hemisphere's summer. The previous two editions were held in March.
  
  The Games
  
  The games opened on August 27, 1959, in sunny 90 °F (32 °C) heat before 40,000 people in Chicago, Illinois, United States at Soldier Field.
  
  Medal table
  
  Sports and Venues
  
    at Soldier Field
    at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park
    at Alumni Gymnasium (men's) and Oak Park High School (women's)
    at Northwest Armoury
    at Gately Stadium temporary venue (Track Cycling)
    at Portage Park
    (Open jumping)
    (soccer) at Hanson Stadium and Soldier Field
    at Navy Pier
    at Waukegan Shooting Range (shooting), Great Lakes Naval Training Center (fencing), Independence Grove (equestrian show-jumping and cross-country running), and Portage Park (swimming)
    in the Cal-Sag Channel
    in Lake Michigan
    at Portage Park
    at Lincoln Park Tennis Club
    at Proviso High School
   
    at Chicago Vocational High School
    at Reavis High School
  
  References
  
  External links
   Chicago 1959 - III Pan American Games - Official Report at PanamSports.org
   Chicago 1959 - III Pan American Games - Official Report (Part 2) at PanamSports.org