From Bonnie Hamre,
Your Guide to South America Travel.
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When the 2004 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony begins in Athens on August 13, 2004, no doubt much mention will be made of the I Olympiad, the revival of the ancient Olympic Games, held in Athens, in 1898.

Chile was the only South American country represented at those games. None of the Chilean athletes won a prize, which for first place winners was a silver medal, a crown of olive branches and a diploma. Those in second place were awarded a bronze medal, a crown of laurel and a diploma. It would be fifty-six years before Chilean athletes won their first Olympic medal.

The first Olympic medal won by a South American country went to Brazil, the first of many to come. The first medal, a Bronze, went to the men's shooting team in Antwerp in 1920.

The first Gold medal went to the Uruguayan football, or soccer, team in Antwerp in 1924. Argentina won its first Gold medal that year, too, for polo.

In the following years, as the Games expanded and the rules and regulations, ceremonies and medals changed into what we know today, the various South American countries increased their participation in the Olympiads.

In fact, one Latin American nation hosted the Olympics. Do you know which one? Do you know which one? Take the South American Host Cities poll and see if you're right.

See the Olympic Games Statistics for South American Countries for participation, medals won and likely participation in the 2004 games.

Some Latin American Athletes to Watch

Argentina

Luciana Paula Aymar - Field Hockey

Mariano Baracetti - Beach Volleyball

Martin Conde - Beach Volleyball

Juan Curuchet - Cycling

Carlos Delfino - Basketball

Emanuel Ginobili - Basketball

Javier Saviola - Soccer

Carlos Tevez - Soccer

Brazil

Katia Teixeira - Soccer

Robert Scheidt - Sailing

Ricardo Santos - Beach Volleyball

Emanuel Rego - Beach Volleyball

Sandra Pires - Beach Volleyball

Rodrigo Pessoa - Equestrian

Helen Luz - Basketball

Benjamim Insfran - Beach Volleyball

Daiane Dos Santos - Gymnastics

Ana Paula Connelly - Beach Volleyball

Adriana Behar - Beach Volleyball

Shelda Bede - Beach Volleyball

Janeth Arcain - Basketball

Marcio Araujo - Beach Volleyball

Paraguay

Diego Figueredo - Soccer

The Games of the XXVII Olympiad will be broadcast in Spanish, via Telemundo, for the first time in the US.

Enjoy the 2004 Olympic Games and keep track of the standings of the South American teams with theSchedule and Results .