Athletics competitions at the 1947–48 Bolivarian Games were held in Lima, Perú, in December 1947 and January 1948.

A detailed history of the early editions of the Bolivarian Games between 1938 and 1989 was published in a book written (in Spanish) by José Gamarra Zorrilla, former president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee, and first president (1976–1982) of ODESUR.

[1] Gold medal winners from Ecuador were published by the Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano.

[2] A total of 33 events were contested, 23 by men and 10 by women.

Unusually, cross country events (individual and team) were part of the games.