Left: Argentina's Manu Ginobili - file Right: Milagros Sequera of Venezuela in action at Wimbledon. - ap

rio dejaneiro,brazil (ap)

Brazilians love to throw a party and are promising a big one for the Pan American Games.

Unfortunately, there won't be a lot of stars to watch once the event gets under way Friday.

Rio is putting the finishing touches on the games after spending nearly 4 billion reals (US$2 billion; euro1.4 billion). And even though the cost is eight times more than projected, few people in Rio are complaining.

Giving a good show is crucial to boost Brazil's chances of hosting other major international sporting events, including the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

But no matter how well Rio does as a host, it won't overcome the fact the Pan Ams have lost some lustre as a sporting competition, with only a few of the world's top athletes attending the Olympic-style event.

Decades ago, the Pan Ams were an essential stop for Latin American athletes vying to make their Olympic teams, and the United States and Canada also sent their biggest stars. Now, many of the region's best simply avoid the games, and the competition is used mostly to develop young athletes.

The last world records in the Pan Ams were set in 1979, and that dry spell is not expected to end in Rio.

"There were more world records broken in the Athens Olympics than in all the Pan Am Games combined," said respected Brazilian sports analyst Juca Kfouri. "The Pan Ams loses to the Asian Games and other tournaments. It's old and has reached its limit."

More than 5,000 athletes from 42 countries are attending these Pan Ams, and the games are sure to attract heavy media attention throughout Latin America. Elsewhere, the event is slightly more than a footnote on the sports pages.

No spotlight

Not even the sport that dominates all others in Brazil, soccer, will be in the spotlight here.

The men's event will be played with under-20 squads. But nations such as Brazil, the United States, Colombia and defending champion Argentina are likely to field under-17 or under-18 squads because their under-20 players are in Canada for the World Cup.

In athletics and swimming, there are also few stars expected. The United States is bringing 'B' teams that still will be good enough to win most of the medals.

Skipping the tennis tournament will be the No. 1 players for most countries, including Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, Argentina's Guillermo Canas and the United States' Andy Roddick. Not even three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, a Brazilian, is playing.

The highest ranked player on the men's side is Chile's Adrian Garcia, ranked 126th by the ATP. Garcia lost in qualifiers for Wimbledon and the French Open.

The United States' top player will be Todd Paul, ranked 972nd.

Venezuela's Milagros Sequera, 48th in the WTA Tour rankings, will be the main athlete on the women's side. Sequera lost to Serena Williams in the second round at the French and third round at Wimbledon.

In basketball, the United States is fielding college players, and both Brazil and Argentina will be without NBA regulars Leandrinho, Nene and Manu Ginobili.

The Pan Am Games is unique in that it has six events more than the Olympics - bowling, water skiing, futsal, karate, roller skating and squash - but one of the rowing events was cancelled because a minimum of six nations were required to sign up. Only four did.

Brazil was able to attract most of its top athletes because it's hosting the event, and will field complete teams in most competitions.

"We can't by no means compare the level of competition in the Pan Ams with the level of competition in the Olympics," said Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira, ranked fourth in the world in the 200-metre medley. "But the Brazilians will be here no matter what; we all just want to be part of an event like this, especially here in Rio."

The United States are favoured to finish first in the medals count, despite bringing only a few of its top athletes. Cuba are likely to come in second.

Canada and Brazil probably will compete for third, said Marcus Vinicius Freire, chief of Brazil's delegation.