In what was the largest sporting event held in Canada to that time, the Winnipeg Pan American Games played host to 2,361 athletes from 29 countries, competing in 18 sports. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, opened the Games during an opening ceremony held in a pouring rainstorm. The citizens of Winnipeg were enthusiastic hosts of the Games, with more than 9,000 people volunteering their time. Another 1,000 men from the Canadian armed forces assisted in such duties as administration, transportation and protocol. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation aired 50 hours of coverage on television and radio.

Nearly any item associated with the V Pan American Games, including programs, vehicles, buildings, place mats and this poster, incorporated the popular logo. Winnipeg designer-artist William J. Mayrs, creative director of Maclaren Advertising, created the logo to communicate the idea of a Canadian sporting event. It represents the torso of an athlete with a Canadian maple leaf, the country’s national symbol, on the singlet. The arms are outstretched as a sign of welcome to the athletes and visitors to Canada. Bernard Michelski designed the actual poster. Forty thousand copies of the poster were distributed by the Canadian Government Travel Bureau.