ASUNCION WELCOMES THE PANAM SPORTS EVALUATION COMMISSION

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Authorities from the Pan American Sports Organization visited the Paraguayan capital for two days, where they toured sports facilities, learned about new projects, and met with the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña.

Asunción plans to build an Athletics Stadium and an Arena for the continental event, with a capacity for more than 10,000 spectators.

As part of the process for the election of the host city for the XXI Pan American Games, the Panam Sports Evaluation Commission began a tour in Paraguay and Brazil with the aim of learning about the candidate cities’ proposals in situ and preparing a report, which will be presented to the Extraordinary General Assembly on October 10.

The first stop was the city of Asuncion, Paraguay. The Commission, composed of President Neven Ilic, Secretary General Jimena Saldaña, and members Sara Rosario, Mario Moccia, and Dennis Knight, held a series of meetings and visits to the different sports venues and to the site where the Pan American Village is planned to be built.

“We want to be sure, first of all, that the Games can be held in the best possible way and that the necessary guarantees from the highest organizations, institutions, and the President of the Republic are in place. The Games must be well organized, and athletes must feel comfortable and well cared for, and be able to compete in high-quality facilities. The most important thing is that the athletes feel that they can come and compete in the best possible way and that we can offer them all the guarantees they need,” said Panam Sports President Neven Ilic.

“We are very happy to have the Evaluation Commission here in Asuncion. It brings back memories of what we just did at ASU 2025. We are very excited and very confident. As we have said with President Santiago Peña, this is a country that is constantly growing, it is the roar of a giant, of a lion that is awakening,” said Paraguayan Olympic Committee President Camilo Perez.

Among the developments presented by Paraguayan authorities during this visit is the confirmation that, if the bid is successful, a new athletics stadium and a new arena with a capacity for more than 10,000 spectators will be built in the Olympic Park.

“Paraguay can offer the entire continent a responsible work from a team that has been working for many years. We can offer peace of mind and ensure a high degree of responsibility in managing budgets. We have a very realistic, well-defined budget, that will help us to host a major event such as the senior Pan American Games,” added the Paraguayan IOC member.

In addition, the Commission was received by the President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, at the presidential residence. On that occasion, they discussed the Paraguayan government’s commitment to Pan American sport and the progress they hope to achieve by 2031 in terms of connectivity and infrastructure.

“It is very important for us to talk to the authorities and the team from the candidate city of Asuncion. We have learned about all the changes they propose to make in relation to the past 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion and the reality they intend to present for the 2031 Games. We have toured the sports facilities that will be improved, expanded, and some new ones,” said Sara Rosario, member of the Panam Sports Evaluation Commission and president of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee.

Dennis Knight, President of the Saint Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee and member of the Commission, shared a similar opinion: “We really need to understand what each candidate city’s project consists of. We are here to evaluate them, to see what they really offer, what they hope to do, and ultimately to report back to our Executive Board members and the National Olympic Committees of Panam Sports.”

This Wednesday, the Panam Sports Evaluation Commission will travel to Rio de Janeiro for the second stop on its tour of the candidate cities to host the 2031 Pan American Games.

VISIT THE PHOTO GALLERY OF THE PANAM SPORTS EVALUATION COMMITTEE’S VISIT TO ASUNCIÓN BY CLICKING HERE.