The presidents of the 41 countries that make up the sports organization of the American continent will vote virtually. The representatives of the cities of Asunción and Lima will travel to the United States to give a 40-minute presentation for each delegation.
On this occasion, the vote of the countries that have organized the previous games will count twice: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
On January 3, Panam Sports withdrew its headquarters from Barranquilla, Colombia, for failure to comply with its obligations. In June 2021, said city had been chosen to organize the 20th edition of the Pan American Games.
For the first time in the history of the Pan American Games, which began in Buenos Aires 1951, three consecutive editions will be held in South America, since in 2019 they were in Lima and in 2021 in Santiago, Chile.
If Asunción wins it would be the first time Paraguay receives the headquarters of a tournament of such magnitude, which is considered the most important multi-sports event in the world after the Olympic Games.
If Lima is chosen, for the first time a city will repeat the venue in the short period of eight years. In the 19 previous editions, only Mexico City and Winnipeg have hosted the games twice: 1955 and 1975, the first of which was mentioned, and in 1967 and 1999 in the Canadian city.
There were countries that organized the games several times, but in different cities: Argentina (Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata 1995), Brazil (Sao Paulo 1963 and Rio de Janeiro 2007), Canada (Winnipeg and Toronto 2015), United States (Chicago 1959 and Indianapolis 1987) and Mexico (Mexico City and Guadalajara 2011).
The Asunción proposal
The president of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Camilo Pérez, stated that his country is in a process of sports development. He held the 2022 South American Games and obtained the venue for the 2025 Junior Pan American Games.
“Much of the sports infrastructure is finished,” Pérez announced. “80% of sports are concentrated in two main parks. The Pan American Village will be built no more than 25 minutes from the hotels and sports venues.”
Pérez also explained the hospitality of the Paraguayan people. He highlighted the government’s support and the fact that President Santiago Peña’s mandate will be until 2028, therefore it will range from the hosting of the Games, if Asunción is elected, until their closure in 2027.
“We have the support of all the Paraguayan people,” Pérez emphasized. “This is an opportunity that, thanks to the legacy of the Pan American Games, will allow a country small in size but large in convictions to grow in sports infrastructure and support the economic and social development of our country.”
Lima is ready
For his part, the president of the Peruvian Olympic Committee, Renzo Manyari, stated that the 2019 Pan American Games united Peru under the flag of sport and left infrastructure of an optimal level.
“We are ready because thanks to the Lima 2019 games we have 100% operational Olympic standard scenarios and human capital with successfully proven international experience,” Manyari explained. “The Peruvian nation saw in sport a mechanism for integration and social change and conveyed that sport is hope and peace.”
Manyari highlighted that Lima has extraordinary flight connectivity to the whole world, a hotel capacity with more than 144,000 beds, of which 17,000 are three to five stars, and a Pan American Village with facilities, dining rooms and other services to operate immediate.
“The 2019 Pan American Games had 94% social approval, according to surveys,” added the Peruvian manager. “The expectation for 2027 is to surpass ourselves because it is a national objective.”
The great legacy of the Games
Patrick Espejo, director of Diario Récord and head of communications for Lima 2019, expressed that an event of the magnitude of the Pan American Games leaves a deep material and spiritual legacy.
“Definitely, after the 2019 games, Peru was better,” said Espejo. “Although they were held in Lima, it was a comprehensive and brilliant event that involved the entire country. We went from having a very old infrastructure to turning Lima into the sports capital of America with the capacity to host world-class events tomorrow.”
Espejo recalled that the Olympic torch relay integrated the entire country and the games motivated the authorities in Peru to do something for their city, district or town.
“There is a very great fervor to do the Games again,” Espejo explained. “Thanks to this wonderful legacy, Lima has hosted pre-Olympic tournaments, Grand Prix of various sports, in 2024 alone we will host four world championships: in May, weightlifting; and in August, athletics, artistic swimming and volleyball. The Pan American Games taught us to be hosts.”
