The event is held in co-ordination with ACODEPA (Asociación de Confederaciones Deportivas Panamericanas) and the Pan American elements of the Olympic movement.
The festival's developmental aspect is also tied in with the subsequent Summer Olympics, which takes place a year after the Pan American Games.
[1] The idea for the festival came from Mario Vázquez Raña, a Mexican sports administrator and president of PASO.
[3] In addition to the developmental aspect of the event, Raña advocated its use as a way of supporting the region's federations by passing on technical knowledge, as well as fostering close ties between countries of the Americas.
[4] Unlike traditional multi-sport events, the Pan American Sports Festival is not limited to a specific city or area.