Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The 2011 Pan American Games, scheduled to be held from October 14–30, 2011 in Guadalajara, will become the third Pan American Games hosted by Mexico and the first held in the state of Jalisco. Previously, Mexico hosted the 1955 Pan American Games and the 1975 Pan American Games, both in Mexico City.

A major international multi-sport event, the Pan American Games welcome athletes from all over the American continent to participate in an international celebration of friendship and sports. The Games are held every four years, in the year before the Olympic Games.

The 2011 Pan American Games will be the largest multi-sport event of the year, with approximately 6,000 athletes from 42 nations expected to participate in 36 sports. While the majority of the events will be held in Guadalajara, some events will be held in the nearby cities of Ciudad Guzmán, Puerto Vallarta, Lagos de Moreno and Tapalpa.

Puerto Vallarta will be hosting four of these sporting events: Beach Volleyball from October 15 to 22 at the new Pan American Beach Volleyball Stadium near the Sheraton Hotel in the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Zone; Sailing from October 16 to 22 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta; the 10 kilometer Open Water Swimming Competition in front of the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta on October 22; and the Triathlon at the API Maritime Terminal on October 23rd.

But before the games begin, the Pan American flame must arrive on the shores of Banderas Bay.

On October 7th, Mexico's National Sailing Team will deliver the Pan American flame by sea from Mazatlán. At approximately 1 pm, they will dock at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta, where the flame will be handed over for a torch lighting ceremony at Paradise Village that includes Pre-Hispanic dance and Mariachi performances, in addition to speeches by local authorities.

At 2:45 pm, 103 relay runners will take the torch on its 32 km journey from Nuevo Vallarta to Puerto Vallarta, where they will take a break at Galerias Vallarta and enjoy a 30 minute ceremony before continuing through Vallarta to the Malecón at approximately 7:45 pm, when Mayor Salvador González Resendiz will light the Pan American cauldron before joining the "Fiestas of the Americas" celebrations already in progress.

The Fiestas of the Americas celebration will start at 5 pm on the north end of the Malecón near the lighthouse at Paseo Diaz Ordaz and Calle Morelos streets, where a stunning set that includes three giant screens placed at strategic points will allow all attendees to enjoy the show.

October 7th Fiestas of the Americas Program:

5:00 pm - Pan American Gymnast Team
6:00 pm - Rock Concert
7:00 pm - Mariachi
8:00 pm - Xiutla Ballet Folklorico
9:00 pm - Faride
10:00 pm - Arcano

This is just the beginning of the fun that the 2011 Pan American Games will bring to Puerto Vallarta and the Banderas Bay region this month. Keep checking BanderasNews for additional information, including event schedules and ticket prices.