2012 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics
The 2012 Ibero-American Championships in Athletics (Spanish: XV Campeonato Iberoamericano de Atletismo) was the fifteenth edition of the international athletics competition between Ibero-American nations. It was held at the Polideportivo Máximo Viloria in Barquisimeto, Venezuela between 8–10 June. Twenty-five nations and a total of 398 athletes participated at the competition. Initially set to be held in the country's capital Caracas, the competition was moved to Maracay in April 2011. The Venezuelan Sports Ministry had not committed any funds for the event. As a result, the president of the Venezuelan Athletics Federation, Wilfredy León, rescheduled the event following the promise of the Aragua state governor Rafael Isea to help build a new stadium for the championships. However, the new stadium and purpose-built accommodation for the event were not ready within schedule. The event was postponed from May to June, but the project remained off-target and in May 2012 Héctor Rodríguez, the Venezuelan Sports Minister, declared that the competition would be held in Barquisimeto (the host of the 2003 South American Championships). The highlight performances were two South American records by Brazilians in the women's section. Andressa de Morais threw a record in the discus throw and Lucimara da Silva's heptathlon score