Although competition will be fierce during the Parapan American Games in Guadalajara, which begin on Saturday, November 12 with the opening ceremony at the Telmex Athletics Stadium, results are not the overriding concern for some athletes and team chiefs.

An enthusiastic VIP breezed into the Pan Am Village to share the final morning of the games with Canadian athletes.

Around 1,500 athletes from 24 nations will compete in the 4th Parapan American Games in Guadalajara from November 12 to 20.

The only black spot for Canada during the final weekend of the Pan American Games was the news that water skier Aaron Rathy failed a drug test and was stripped of his wakeboard silver medal won at Boca Laguna on the shores of Lake Chapala.Games doping officials said Rathy had tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine.

In the end, Pan American Sports Organization President Mario Vasquez Rana uttered the words many Tapatios were so anxious to hear: “I declare the Pan American Games in Guadalajara the best in history.”

After a frantic penultimate day of competition on Saturday, the Pan American Games slowed to its inevitable conclusion Sunday but not without a heart-stopping basketball final, which almost saw Mexico pick up its 43rd gold of the games.

FINAL MEDAL TABLE

Mexico shut out its rivals in the first three days of the diving competition, winning all six gold medals on offer, as Cuba picked up a whopping 15 gold medals to take its total to 53.

Mexico enjoyed its best day yet at the Pan Am Games on Thursday, collecting nine gold medals. Team USA matched the hosts with same number of golds, while Canada's sole win came in a sensational penalty shootout in the women's soccer final against Brazil at the Omnilife Stadium.

Mexico has opened the Pan Am diving competition in emphatic fashion, picking up both gold medals on offer Wednesday. The victories inched Mexico's 86-medal tally above Canada (83), although the Canadian delegation has one more gold (23-22) after winning fencing and canoeing finals.

Canada celebrated three golds on a dramatic day 11 of the Pan American Games that saw a small Caribbean nation make history and win its first ever medal.