The Bolivarian Games were held for the first time in Venezuela. The third edition took place in Caracas on December 5th.

At the end, after an emotional closing ceremony, Peru won the overall competition with 40 gold, 39 silver and 25 bronze medals. The second place went to the host nation, which amassed 33 gold, 31 silver and the same number of bronze medals. Panama finished third.

Since then, Venezuela has dominated all subsequent editions and managed to win 1,401 gold medals and a total of 3,263 medals overall throughout the history of the games.    

Another highlight of 1951 was the discovery of the origin of the Orinoco River on November 27th. A group of scientists led by Major Frank A. Rísquez Iribarren embarked on this mission for six long months. Interestingly enough, upon the group's arrival in La Carlota airport, it was greeted by Marcos Pérez Jiménez, who had just been promoted to colonel general by a decree executed none other than by himself as a member of the government junta and minister of Defense.

Political arrests escalated at that time. On May 10th, Alberto Carnevalli, accused of a series of terrorist actions, was imprisoned. On June 26th, Carnevalli managed to break free with the help of armed men including Jaime Lusinchi and José Manzo González.

On September 1st, Pedro Estrada was named director of the National Security Force. The following months, he welcomed a commission from Scotland Yard to provide him with assistance in organizing Venezuelan police forces.

This was a commotion-filled year for the Central University of Venezuela (UCV). On August 39th, Eloy Dávila Celis became President of the university, having held the same position at the Los Andes University, where he had undergone harsh criticism. Forty-five days later he decided to shut down the Agronomy and Medicine faculties in Maracay after a symbolic strike protesting his commissioning. His appointment brought about strong diverging stances within the university community.

On October 17th, the government junta intervened the UCV and ordered its reorganization. Far from bringing peace, the move sparked greater protests and resistance from both students and a large part of the academic staff. As a result of this episode, 45 professors were dismissed, 137 students were expelled and the university was shut down. Several students were imprisoned and others expelled; many managed to return to Venezuela only after democracy was reinstated in 1958.