Will the Pan American Games return to Lima? Last Wednesday, the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), better known as Panama Sports, announced its decision to withdraw Barranquilla as the venue for the twentieth edition of the multi-sport event. With the Colombian city's departure from the organization, the position of hosting the competition became vacant in 2027, before Lima could be ready to host the Games again after its successful experience in 2019.
What does Lima need to host the 2027 Pan American Games?
The first step to consider the Peruvian capital is to officially present the candidacy. The Republic was able to learn that the Peruvian Olympic Committee (COP) was one of the Olympic committees to which Odepa sent a letter announcing the request to detach Barranquilla.
The deadline for Lima to present himself as a candidate is up to 48 hours after the start of the call for applications. This requires the support of the President of the Republic, Dina Boluarte, and the Mayor Rafael López Aliaga.
However, Peru would not be the only country interested in taking over the management of the Pan American Games. Mexico would also like to host the competition again. In addition, the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which lost the election to Barranquilla, could also be considered.
Why was Barranquilla left without the Pan American Games?
In an official statement published through social networks, Panam Sports explained that the Colombian authorities had not complied with the payment of the corresponding payment for the rights of the Pan American Games organization within the established deadline. For this reason, it “adamantly” decided to withdraw the headquarters from Barranquilla.
“Barranquilla has requested an extension of the deadlines in order to be able to comply with the contract. In view of the zero response, the Executive Committee of Panam Sports has taken the unwavering decision to withdraw the contract after the new deadline of January 3, 2024. Right to be the host city of the continental event in 2027,” the statement said.