Athletics competitions at the 1961 Bolivarian Gameswere held in Barranquilla,Colombia, in December, 1961. A detailed history of the early editions of the Bolivarian Games between 1938and 1989 was published in a book written (in Spanish) by José GamarraZorrilla, former president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee, and firstpresident (1976-1982) of ODESUR. Gold medal winners from Ecuador were published by the Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano. A total of 30 events were contested, 21 by men and 9 by women.