The ALBA Games (Spanish: Juegos Deportivos del ALBA) are a multi-sport event organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA). The games are held once every two years.[1] It was originally intended only for athletes of the ALBA member states but it has expanded to other countries in the Americas.

Map of member states (Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) members)

The first edition was held in 2005 in Havana, Cuba. Since then it was decided that Cuba and Venezuela will be switching editions every two years. However, there is a possibility that other countries may host the games in future editions.[2]

Amid the international isolation Russia is facing due to the invasion of Ukraine, ALBA invited Russia to participate at the 2023 Games.[3] Russia sent 48 athletes to the 2023 ALBA Games and competed under its national flag.

Nations

edit

ALBA's 10 member states are Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela.

Observer members

edit

Former members

edit

Guests

edit

Games

edit
Year Games Host City Host Country Dates Athletes Nations Sports Top Medalling
Nation
2005 1 Havana   Cuba 17 June – 30 June 441 8 31   Cuba
2007 2 Caracas   Venezuela 27 April – 12 May 1,659 30 38   Cuba
2009 3 Havana   Cuba 15 April – 18 April 691 28 38   Cuba
2011 4 Barquisimeto   Venezuela 17 July – 30 July ~2,500 ~23 35   Venezuela
2013 - Quito   Ecuador June – July not held
2015 - Cochabamba   Bolivia August – September not held
2023 5 Caracas   Venezuela 21–29 April ~3,500 11 33   Venezuela
2025 6 Roseau   Dominica 3–20 July
  • Not held in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

2023

edit

The athletes marched on behalf of their respective delegations representing Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela. Russia was due to take part in boxing, beach volleyball, karate, table tennis, trampolining, weightlifting and rhythmic gymnastics. The Games were set to see approximately 3,500 athletes from 11 countries compete in 35 sports. Russian athletes were invited as special guests thanks to an agreement signed by Russia and Venezuela in October 2021.[4] Russia sent 48 athletes to the 2023 ALBA Games and competed under its national flag. Athletes from host nation Venezuela won the most medals.[5]

Medal table

edit

  *   Host nation (Venezuela)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Venezuela (VEN)*255254226735
2  Cuba (CUB)766553194
3  Russia (RUS)36241070
4  Nicaragua (NCA)725113145
5  Bolivia (BOL)65819
6  Dominica (DMA)2259
7  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (VCT)1045
8  Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKN)0123
9  Antigua and Barbuda (ATG)0101
10  Grenada (GRN)0000
  Saint Lucia (LCA)0000
Totals (11 entries)3833774211,181

All-time medal table

edit

As of 2011 – note that records for the 2005 Games are incomplete. The 2023 ALBA Games medal table.[6]

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Cuba (CUB)9485625322,042
2  Venezuela (VEN)6117716952,077
3  Chile (CHI)495479182
4  Ecuador (ECU)4377110230
5  Colombia (COL)365164151
6  Russia (RUS)3022961
7  El Salvador (SLV)14142149
8  Mexico (MEX)881228
9  Bolivia (BOL)7153557
10  Panama (PAN)76417
11  Dominican Republic (DOM)6234877
12  Argentina (ARG)671629
13  Guatemala (GUA)361524
14  Nicaragua (NIC)211821
15  Peru (PER)151016
16  Brazil (BRA)1449
17  Honduras (HON)1157
18  Barbados (BAR)0224
19  Puerto Rico (PRI)0156
20  Costa Rica (CRI)0112
21  Guyana (GUY)0101
  Spain (ESP)0101
23  Haiti (HAI)0022
Totals (23 entries)1,7731,6331,6875,093

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ ALBA - ALBA Sports Games. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  2. ^ "Reseña Histórica". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Россию пригласили на самые антиамериканские старты мира. Что это такое?" [Russia is invited to the most anti-American sporting event in the world. What is it about?]. sport-express.ru (in Russian). 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  4. ^ "Россию пригласили на самые антиамериканские старты мира. Что это такое?" [Russia is invited to the most anti-American sporting event in the world. What is it about?]. sport-express.ru (in Russian). 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  5. ^ "Sitio Web Oficial de los V Juegos Alba Venezuela 2023". JuegosALBAvenezuela2023.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  6. ^ "Sitio Web Oficial de los V Juegos Alba Venezuela 2023". JuegosALBAvenezuela2023.org. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
edit