Athletics competitions at the 1961 Bolivarian Games were held in Barranquilla, Colombia, in December, 1961.

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 30 events were contested, 21 by men and 9 by women.

Medal winners were published.