Panam Sports gives Barranquilla the 2027 Pan American Games

Barranquilla, August 28 (RHC/JIT) .- The 20th edition of the largest multi-sport event in the Americas will be held in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 2027.

This was made official by the president of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, after an exciting and symbolic contract signing event in the host city.

Also in attendance were the President of Colombia, Iván Duque, the President of the Colombian Olympic Committee, Ciro Solano, Governor Elsa Noguera, Mayor Jaime Pumarejo and great Colombian sports figures of all times. 

With vast experience in organizing events, such as matches of the Colombian national soccer team and the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, Panam Sports believes that the city of Barranquilla has everything necessary to offer a world-class event such as the Pan American Games, highlighting the infrastructure and above all the passion of its people for admirable sport. 

That is why the executive committee of Panam Sports, together with the unrestricted support of its member countries, chose to give the confirmation to this emerging city and Colombia for the organization of the most important multi-sport event in the world after the Olympic Games, and which will be a qualifier for Los Angeles 2028. 

"This designation being made by Panam Sports represents a very special recognition to a country that has demonstrated an unconditional commitment to the sporting development of the continent. It pleasantly surprised us in 2018 with the organization of the Central American and Caribbean Games.

"Then it believed in us and despite the pandemic they have made an incredible effort and work towards the I Pan American Junior Games of Cali 2021, which has us very happy and motivated. That is why our member countries have decided to award the venue of our main sporting event in 2027 to the beautiful city of Barranquilla," said Neven Ilic.

"I want to thank President Iván Duque for the unrestricted support he has given us in recent times. We know the effort he and all the government and sports authorities of Cali and Barranquilla have made for the sport of the continent and for the youth of the Americas, who undoubtedly represent our future," added Ilic. 

Hosting an event of these characteristics provides the city and the organizing country with a unique opportunity for sports development, with a considerable improvement in its infrastructure, a tourist boost to the region and the opportunity to have the best athletes of the continent, many of them great figures and world and Olympic champions, which leads to a legacy of incalculable value for Colombia and for the new generations of athletes.

"This is the government that has supported the Junior Pan American Games and we decided to move them forward because it was also a message that not even the pandemic is going to take away that possibility of dreaming big. They have our backing, our support. I want this not only to be a project from Barranquilla or Atlantico, this is a project for the country. Colombia will hold the Pan American Games for the second time in its history. It did it in Cali in 1971 and it will do it in the Puerta de Oro, in Barranquilla in 2027. Let's all be united to move forward with this purpose. Long live Colombia! Long live Barranquilla!" said Duque.
The mayor of Barranquilla was emphatic in pointing out that "we want the continent and the world to look at Barranquilla. We will be ready to welcome them, to show them what Barranquilla is today and especially what it will be in a few years. That is why we give them the keys to our city in this ceremony that will open the doors for this to be their home. We are waiting for you here and we want you to come and fall in love with this city".

Several outstanding athletes were present at this ceremony: the silver medalists in the 400 meters and women's race walking in Tokyo 2020, Anthony Zambrano and Sandra Arenas; the double Olympic BMX medalist Carlos Ramirez, and one of the greatest idols of Colombia and especially of Barranquilla, Edgar Renteria, among many others.

With this nomination of Barranquilla as host of the XX Pan American Games in 2027, the sports agenda for the coming years is as follows...

November 2021: Cali-Valle 2021 Junior Pan American Games (Colombia).

October 2023: 2023 Pan American Games Santiago 2023 (Chile)
July 2024: Paris 2024 Olympic Games (France) 
2027: Barranquilla Pan American Games 2027 (Colombia)
July 2028: Los Angeles Olympic Games 2028 (United States)