PANAM SPORTS WEEK OPENS WITH A DAY OF DEEP DIALOGUE ACROSS THE REGION

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Panam Sports Week officially got underway today, bringing together National Olympic Committee presidents, secretary generals, athlete representatives, and members of the International Olympic Committee for a full day of roundtable discussions centered on the future of sport across the Americas.

Throughout the day, participants moved through five rounds of dialogue, each dedicated to a distinct theme shaping the direction of the Olympic Movement in the region:

• Juegos Panamericanos y los Juegos Junior — the evolution of the Pan American Games and the Junior Pan American Games
• Athlete al Centro — placing athletes at the center of decision-making
• Gobernanza — governance across the Olympic Movement
• Fortalecimiento de los CONs — strengthening National Olympic Committees
• Marca e Ingresos — brand identity and revenue generation

What emerged was a day defined by substantive, at times complex, conversation. Leaders did not shy away from difficult questions, engaging in the kind of critical thinking that these themes demand. The discussions made clear that the challenges on the table are not confined to any one nation — they are shared realities facing the region as a whole, and solving them will require a collective, hemispheric approach.

By the end of the day, there was a shared sense that real progress had been made. The exchanges were candid, the perspectives varied, and the commitment to strengthening sport across the Americas was evident in every room.

“This session of reflection we held, ‘Forward Together, Avanzando Juntos,’ is, I believe, the most important thing Panam Sports has done in a long time—in terms of reflecting on what we’re going through, the direction we’re heading, and what we need to do so that our National Olympic Committees function better and better, are stronger, and we’re all moving forward together to achieve greater things for our athletes,” said Panam Sports Secretary General Jimena Saldaña.

“I think it’s very important because here we need to reflect on the entire sports ecosystem—and really consider what they want from this continental organization, what they expect from us, and listen to them. I think it’s very important that we move forward together in the same direction toward a much better, stronger Panam Sports,” concluded Jimena Saldaña.

What’s Next

Panam Sports Week continues tomorrow with two dedicated sessions: a forum on Women’s Sport and a Safe Sport Forum, both aimed at advancing protections and opportunities for athletes across the region.

On Wednesday, attention turns to governance and strategy, with Executive Committee meetings followed by a conclusions discussion on Forward Together.

Thursday brings the start of the General Assembly, which will carry into Friday — the final day of Panam Sports Week — when member nations will come together to select the next host city for the Junior Pan American Games.

After a productive opening day, the region’s sporting leaders head into the rest of the week with momentum, and with the same collaborative spirit that defined today’s conversations.