Santiago de Chile, September 27 (EFE)-- Chilean Sports Minister Jaime Pizarro said that the organization of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games is a major challenge, considering them as an example that will boost the bid to host the 2030 World Cup (soccer) along with Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.
"We have an increased responsibility because our country executes in an impeccable way these Games, because we are also in some other dreams of concreting future events of high relevance and global character," said Pizarro in conference with foreign journalists.
Pizarro, who was a professional soccer player and played for Chilean club Colo Colo, considered that the southern countries have good arguments to host the Games.
"We are eager to host the World Cup in our continent in 2030, given that on that date it will be the 100th anniversary of the first World Cup in Uruguay, and that today the current world champion is also in that group. We are very encouraged and hope to move forward with great success," he added.
The Fifa Council determined that the announcement of the organizers of this edition of the World Cup will take place in the third quarter of next year. The South American countries are competing so far with the joint bid of Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
With the organization of the Pan American Games, to be held from October 20 to November 5, and the Parapan American Games, from November 17 to 26, the Chilean government hopes that the infrastructure legacy will allow the southern country to host more world-class sporting events.
Already on the agenda is the women's junior field field hockey world cup, to be held from November 29 to December 10 at the new fields in Santiago's Parque Estadio Nacional.
This venue will be the epicenter of most of the Pan American and Parapan American competitions.
It will also host the 27th edition of the South American School Games next December, which will bring together 2,000 young athletes.