The Pan American Games began in 1940. Twenty-one countries from the western hemisphere were called together by the Argentine Olympic Committee to discuss the establishment of the games. It was believed that the Pan American Games would provide amateur athletes added international competition between Pan-American Games Society n each Olympiad. Sixteen national Olympic committees sent representatives to the meeting and it was decided that the games would be held every four years beginning in 1942. The games, however, were delayed for nine years, the first being held in Buenos Aries, Brazil in 1951. The 1955 games were held in Mexico City, the 1959 games in Chicago, the 1963 games at Sao Paulo, Brazil and the 1967 games, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1967, 29 countries entered athletes in a program which included baseball, basketball, boxing, cycling, judo, rowing, fencing, shooting, soccer, football, water polo, weightlifting, wrestling, yachting, gymnastics, swimming, diving, tennis, and volleyball. Synchronized swimming and canoeing were included as "exhibition sports."