Colombia withdraws as host of 2027 Pan American Games

On Wednesday, the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) announced in a statement that the committee has decided to withdraw the host city status from Barranquilla, Colombia, for the 2027 Pan American Games due to a breach of contract.

According to PASO, a meeting took place at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, between the committee and Colombian authorities regarding Barranquilla 2027. The host city requested an extension of the financial deadlines set by PASO to fulfill contract expectations. PASO granted the hosts an extension, with the new deadline set for Dec. 30.

“Given the lack of response in accordance with the new financial deadline, the PASO executive committee made the decision on Jan. 3, 2024, to withdraw the right to be a host city of the continental event in 2027,” PASO said in a translated statement posted on social media.

The Federación Colombiana de Atletismo (FECODATLE), the national athletics federation of Colombia, submitted the bid for the 2027 Games on Aug. 27, 2021. They were one of three cities that expressed interest in hosting the major sporting event, with others being Buenos Aires, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Buenos Aires submitted a bid for the 2023 event, but withdrew for financial reasons.

“Charles Philibert-Thiboutot earns Canada’s first track medal at Pan American Games” — Canadian Running Magazine

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As Barranquilla was the sole bid, it was appointed as the host city. Large multi-sporting events outside of the Olympics have recently grappled with the costs of staging an event of this magnitude. Recently, the state of Victoria, Australia, pulled out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games due to the exponential costs associated with the Games.

The Pan American Games is a multi-sport event held every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games. It is the second oldest continental games globally, originating in 1951 in Buenos Aires. Since then, the games have been held in various cities across North and South America, including Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and Toronto. The most recent event was held in Santiago, Chile, in late October, where Team Canada won a total of 164 medals, including 46 gold

posted Sunday January 7th
by Running Magazine