Bids for the 1975 Pan American Games

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This bid marked the fourth time that Santiago had bid to host the Pan American Games—first in São Paulo, then in Mexico, and most recently, in Winnipeg.^[3]

It was generally understood that San Juan would not host the 1975 Pan American Games; as such, President of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee Felicio Terregrosa asked to be the alternate host city, should Santiago back out.^[8] Puerto Rico's bid was presented extemporaneously.^[3]

In 1973, due to unstable political and financial reasons mainly due to the military coup of Augusto Pinochet, Santiago declined to organize the games.^[4] The runner-up San Juan had already been awarded the 1979 Pan American Games, so they declined to host the games.^[9] São Paulo, Brazil took over as the host city but was forced to give up because of a meningitis epidemic that swept Brazil in 1974.^[5]

After São Paulo dropped out, President Luis Echeverría Álvarez informed President of the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) Mario Vázquez Raña that Mexico City was authorized to host the games in an on an emergency basis. The committee then informed PASO that the city would host the games, if as no other countries or city are interested. With just 10 months until the Pan American Games, the PASO announced that Mexico City would serve as the host city.^[7]