Athletics competitions at the 1989 Bolivarian Games were held at the Estadio José Pachencho Romero in Maracaibo, Venezuela, between January 14–25, 1989. 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 40 events were contested, 23 by men and 17 by women.