Organising Committee executive director Harold Mayne-Nicholls signed a deal with the university's dean Hugo Lavados Montes to officially launch the initiative.

Athletes will be observed using technology including high speed and high definition cameras which can record 300 pictures a second.

There will also be a speed radar and image analysis.

It is hoped that once the information gathered is analysed, athletes will be able to prepare better for future events such as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Similar studies have been carried out at the Olympics, but never the Pan American Games.

Researchers at the university will carry out the analysis along with physical education students.

"The university is committed to sports development, supporting the upbringing of future talents in many disciplines, supporting the activities that encourage learning and the participation of our researchers and academics, and lending facilities," said Montes.

Mayne-Nicholls added: "Never before has a research of this kind been carried out at the Pan American Games, meaning the support of the USS will be an important milestone for the sports scientific research of the country and the world, being added to the legacy that will make history in the Pan American Games."

Chile is hosting the Pan American Games for the first time with the Opening Ceremony scheduled for Friday (October 20).

The Games are due to run until November 5 and will be followed by the Parapan American Games from November 17 to 26.