The current leader of the Olympic Movement of the Americas, Chile’s Neven Ilic, was re-elected on Wednesday to continue at the helm of Panam Sports until 2028. In the election, which took place in the framework of the organisation’s LXII General Assembly in Asunción, Paraguay, Ilic obtained a victory over his opponent Keith Joseph, president of the CANOC, whom he thanked for his work and assured that they would continue to collaborate for  “the Americas”.

On this occasion, unlike previous elections in which he was unanimously elected as the only candidate, Ilic faced the second vice-president of Panam Sports, Keith Joseph, from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Chilean received 37 votes to Keith Joseph’s 16, making this election process more enriching and healthy than the previous one as there were two strong candidates. The Americas is a winner.

Keith Joseph, the CANOC president.

After learning the result, Ilic expressed his thanks to the members of the assembly. “I want to thank everyone who supported me and allowed me to complete this project. These elections are over and I can say that we are a great team. Everyone is part of this project,” he said. He also had words of appreciation for his opponent: “Of course, I want to thank my friend Keith Joseph. We will continue to work to keep the Americas a bright continent.”

In addition to the re-election of the president, the Panam Sports Assembly elected three new vice presidents: Sarah Hirshland (USA), Veda Bruno Victor (Grenada) and Camilo Perez (Paraguay), who will hold key positions in the organisation for the coming years. In other positions, Jimena Saldaña was re-elected as Secretary General, while Richard Peterkin will continue to serve as Treasurer, after both were ratified by the Panam Sports General Assembly.