PANAM SPORTS EXECUTIVES RECEIVE THE ATHLETE EXPERIENCE IN THE PAN AMERICAN VILLAGE OF SANTIAGO 2023

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The Panam Sports Executive Committee continues the tradition started at Lima 2019 by spending the night in the Santiago 2023 Pan American Village.

From dinner to breakfast, the leaders of Americas’ Olympic Movement lived as the athletes do throughout the Pan American Games.

SANTIAGO, CHILE (October 17, 2023) — Members of the Panam Sports Executive Committee are waking up in the Pan American Village this morning in order to understand the athlete experience at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

Led by Panam Sports President Neven Ilic, the top authorities of Americas’ Olympic Movement received a taste of the athlete life at the Games by eating dinner among hundreds of the continent’s top stars in the Village’s Dining Hall. They were joined by two members of Team Panam Sports, Rebeca Andrade (Brazil – Artistic Gymnastics) and Alejandra Orozco (Mexico – Diving), who greeted the sports leaders during their first night in the Village.

The spacious dining hall features five service stations with a varied selection of food as well as two salad bars and even activity stands from both Panam Sports and the International Olympic Committee. The Executives and athletes alike raved about the quality of the food, service and experience in the Village.

“This is an experience that is really very nice. To be able to come here with the athletes and see how they live, how they eat, how they interact. We did this four years ago in Lima and today we are very happy to be here again in Santiago, Chile, to me it’s really spectacular. And the food is exquisite,” said Panam Sports President Neven Ilic.

“The Village is very beautiful, and the truth is there is a lot of variety. And I think that here we will all be able to connect during this great celebration and get to know each other more. And also we will adapt to all of the circumstances which is the coolest, to arrive to a new place where we feel like we’re at home before we compete to give everything we have for our countries,” said Alejandra Orozco of Team Panam Sports.

“I’m impressed and I want to congratulate all of the workers behind the scenes that made this possible. I see the athletes are happy and enjoying their meals. All of the athletes and officials are enjoying themselves. I can see the happiness on the athlete faces, so I look forward to seeing the athletes now going to their competitions with the Games beginning on Friday,” said Panam Sports Executive Committee Member Erskine Simmons from Barbados.

Following the dinner, each of the Executive Committee Members toured the facilities of the Pan American Village before heading to their rooms to see and experience the athlete lodging during the Games. The sport leaders also gave very positive reviews about the comfortable apartments that feature all of the amenities to ensure the athletes have everything they need to succeed at Santiago 2023.

“Staying in the Village to me is very important. I believe it’s important to see this part of the daily life and experience here at the Games, but above all to be able to share what the athletes will be experiencing on a daily basis,” said Panam Sports Secretary General Jimena Saldaña.

After a great night’s sleep, the leaders came together for breakfast in the dining hall where they were once again joined by hundreds of athletes as they begin their preparations to compete at the Games that begin on October 20.

After breakfast, the Executive Committee will return to the Pan American Family Hotel to hold their first meeting of Santiago 2023 to review final preparations for both the General Assembly that will be held from October 18-19 and the Games that begin at the end of the week.

The tone has been set for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games with the commitment shown by Panam Sports leadership to put themselves in the shoes of the greatest athletes of the Americas. Now, its time for the athletes to take over the Village as more than 6,900 of the continent’s top stars arrive in Chile prepared to compete for medals while representing their countries with pride.

Fans across the world can also experience the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games for free by downloading the Panam Sports Channel mobile application that will have nine daily live streams showing all of the action from the continent’s most important multisport event.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PHOTOS OF THE VISIT.