The decision places Pan American confederations at the centre of sports development in the region. These resources can help improve the operational capacity of organisations, expand training programmes, coordinate calendars, support national federations and prepare regional competitions. In a continent with very different sporting realities, the measure seeks to create better conditions for athletes, coaches, officials and technical structures.

More support for the Pan American sports network

The increase for ACODEPA gives greater room for action to the organisation that brings together Pan American or continental sports confederations recognised by their international federations and by the Olympic system. Its role is to coordinate the work of these bodies within the continental ecosystem, which means the funding increase has not only an economic reading, but also an institutional one.

ACODEPA president Francisco Lee described the day as “historic” and said that Panam Sports had taken “a qualitative leap forward” in its support for Pan American confederations and for the organisation itself. The meeting also agreed to provide assistance to the CARIFTA Games, the Caribbean youth athletics tournament, and to the Central American Sports Organization -ORDECA-, chaired by Armando Bruni, extending the scope of the measures to regional structures and youth development events.

Lima 2027 presents its progress

The second major focus of the meeting was the presentation by the Lima 2027 Organising Committee, led by Sergio Ludeña, president of the Peruvian Sports Institute -IPD-, and Renzo Manyari, president of the Peruvian Olympic Committee. The organisers outlined the main advances for the Pan American Games, including that 98% of the infrastructure is ready, the launch of the local organising committee’s website and social media channels, and the hiring of professionals across different functional areas.

The presentation by Panam Sports’ Lima 2027 Coordination Commission, led by Damaris Young, president of the Olympic Committee of Panama and member of the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, also carried weight within the meeting. Ludeña said the Peruvian team had presented “all the details” of its work plan and highlighted the recommendations received from the Executive Board. “The commitment of the Peruvian Government is total and we are convinced that we are on the right track,” he said.

Training, coordination and institutional confidence

Panam Sports president Neven Ilic described the meeting as “very productive” and highlighted the Lima 2027 presentation as one of the most important points. “We received a very solid presentation, which gives us great confidence that the Games will become a reality and that the work is being done properly,” he said. Ilic also thanked the Aruban Olympic Committee and the national government for the welcome received during the meeting.

Panam Sports secretary general Jimena Saldaña linked the meeting to the alignment of the organisation’s priorities and to training work within the continental system. “Strengthening national federations and Pan American confederations through training and education opportunities allows us to create the best conditions for our athletes, who are, of course, at the centre of all our decisions and actions,” she said.

The meeting also had a relevant reading for Aruba as host. Nicole Hoevertsz, secretary general of the Aruban Olympic Committee and IOC member, said that organising the meeting had been “a great honour” and an opportunity to show that the island can host events of this level. “It was a huge challenge. The meeting was very successful and gave us the opportunity to demonstrate that Aruba can host these major events. We hope this will be the first of many meetings in the future,” she said.

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The visit reinforced the idea that the Paraguayan capital has become a strategic partner for Panam Sports, following the success of the Junior Pan American Games in August. In addition, the political and institutional backing places Paraguay in the spotlight ahead of the election.

Panam Sports and Asunción

The continental organization sees Asunción as a strong option thanks to its recent experience and existing infrastructure. The Junior Pan American Games brought together more than 4,000 young athletes from 41 countries and served as a showcase of the country’s ability to host major competitions.

The President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and IOC Member, Camilo Pérez López Moreira, emphasized that the country is ready to take the next step: “Paraguay has shown that it can host world-class events that inspire athletes and ignite the passion of fans across the continent.”

The IOC’s role and international momentum

The support of Panam Sports is part of a broader strategy of international positioning for Paraguay. The President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, together with Camilo Pérez, recently met in New York with IOC President Kirsty Coventry during the United Nations General Assembly. On that occasion, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to the development of sport and to Olympic values, sending a clear message of alignment with the international Olympic movement.

This closer relationship with the IOC is seen as a reinforcement of Paraguay’s candidacy, which seeks to project not only organizational capacity but also institutional stability and long-term support.

The Paraguayan Government has introduced innovative measures to support the organization of major events, such as special legislation to facilitate free visas and the creation of a Permanent Organizing Committee for Major Events to ensure continuity in planning. In addition, work is underway to expand Asunción’s connectivity and increase airport capacity — key elements for hosting an event of the magnitude of the Pan American Games.

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From August 8 to 23, a total of 4,072 athletes from 41 countries competed across 28 sports. More than 11,000 participants were accredited, including 650 media representatives, underlining the scale and logistical reach of the event.

Pathway to Lima 2027 and gender equality milestones

The Junior Pan American Games Asunción 2025 provided direct qualification spots for the Pan American Games Lima 2027, consolidating their role in the continental sports calendar. Female participation reached significant levels, a point highlighted by Panam Sports as part of its strategic objectives on gender equality.

The Paraguayan capital demonstrated operational capability across infrastructure, transport, and services, supported by a simplified visa system that facilitated the arrival of international delegations.

More than 4,000 staff and providers, together with 3,295 volunteers, supported the operation. Earlier this year, the Government of Paraguay enacted legislation establishing a Permanent Organizing Committee for major sporting events, ensuring continuity in management and international projection.

Social impact initiatives included 80 community activations and the ASU Fans Program, which engaged over 16,000 students and reinforced the educational dimension of sport.

Paraguay highlights its organizational role

The President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, stated: “Paraguay is proud to have welcomed the continent’s youth with open arms. These Games reflect not only our organizational excellence and national hospitality, but also the firm support of the Government in transforming the country into an international sports hub.”

The President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee -COP-, Camilo Pérez López Moreira, added: “These Games have been a celebration of youth and sport, and demonstrated Paraguay’s ability to deliver with excellence. Our athletes, volunteers, and citizens embraced this challenge and proved that Asunción is ready to contribute to Pan American sport and the Olympic Movement at the highest level.”

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Saldaña emphasized the role of the venues as drivers of sports development. “We now have great facilities that adapt very well to the country’s needs, but also become a very important center for the countries of the region that can come here to participate,” she stated.

In this context, she recalled the impact of the training camps held ahead of the Asunción 2025 Junior Games. “We brought together more than 1,000 official athletes in several sports, not only those included in the event. This has been a great boost for the athletes who are here today giving their best,” she affirmed.

The value for children: “Something awakens in them”

The sports leader stressed the importance of the effect competitions have on young audiences. “If you see the children and young people who have had the chance to attend, something awakens in them: these dreams, this desire to practice sports or to become stars in a particular discipline,” she explained.

She added that this impact “has great value for the country and for the region, because when there is greater sports participation and athletes find their place in high performance, this strengthens the federations, the committees, and therefore also Panam Sports as an organization.”

The ‘Lounge’, the Games’ alternative to the Village

Regarding the organization, Saldaña acknowledged that “the Junior Games do not have a Village, we housed the athletes and delegations in hotels, trying to ensure that everyone had the same level of comfort.” Even so, she highlighted that the proximity of the venues was key: “Since the facilities were so close, we were able to gather everyone within a very comfortable radius, and that allowed the athletes to arrive more relaxed and rested.”

The greatest challenge, she pointed out, was creating spaces for interaction. “Normally, in a Village athletes live together and a sense of community grows. Here we didn’t have that, so we came up with the ‘Lounge’, tents where they could rest, hydrate, socialize and even participate in interactive games or talks with fellow athletes.”

“A model of togetherness to be repeated”

The Panam Sports Secretary General highlighted the positive feedback from participants: “Many athletes have come to thank us because these spaces became places where they could not only rest, but also share with others and enjoy the full experience of the Games.”

Finally, she assured that this initiative will guide future editions. “This model of togetherness we are going to repeat in the Pan American Games and the Junior Pan American Games,” she concluded.

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Launched in 2021 by Panam Sports, the Junior Pan American Games were created to spotlight emerging athletic talent from across the region, providing young competitors with an Olympic-style experience early in their careers. The Games also serve as a qualification pathway to the Pan American Games and, for some sports, future Olympic participation, making them a crucial step in the development of future champions.

The U.S. team arrives in Paraguay with strong momentum and high expectations. At the inaugural edition of the Games in Cali, Colombia, American judokas captured two gold medals and three bronze, and the 2025 squad looks poised to improve on that performance.

Top American judokas to compete in Asunción

Gold medalist returns as team leader

Among the returning athletes is a Florida-based judoka who won gold in 2021 and now moves up a weight class. At just 19, she carries not only a world junior ranking inside the top 30 but also the poise of a seasoned competitor. Her leadership is expected to anchor a team packed with rising stars.

Several members of the squad enter the Games with top-tier global rankings, including three judokas currently ranked No. 2 in the world in their divisions. Another key contender, based at the USA Judo National Resident Program in Los Angeles, holds a top-10 world ranking and is widely regarded as a serious medal threat in the men’s lightweight category.

Ranked and ready for battle

Beyond the top ranks, the delegation includes a number of athletes sitting just outside the world’s top 10, with some ranked within the top 15 or top 20. This reflects the program’s depth and competitive edge. These athletes have been training at some of the country’s premier development hubs, including clubs in Florida, California, and New York. They represent a cross-section of the nation’s next-generation talent.

The Junior Pan American Games serve as an important developmental milestone, offering athletes international exposure and a critical step toward Olympic qualification and future senior-level success. For USA Judo, the event is not only a chance to add to the medal tally, but also to shape the trajectory of young athletes on the path to global competition.

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Following the success of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, which garnered over 25 million views, the channel is gearing up for this new challenge, solidifying itself as a key alternative for promoting sports in the Americas.

World-Class Production

The broadcast of the Games will involve more than 280 professionals responsible for the production and distribution of the official signal. Over 80 cameras will be deployed across the sports venues, including drones, underwater cameras, and slow-motion technology, ensuring world-class broadcast quality.

Additionally, the event will feature narration by 12 expert commentators, who will convey all the excitement of the competitions. As a major incentive, the Games will award 216 direct qualifications for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games.

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The visit confirmed significant progress in infrastructure, operations, and institutional coordination, as Paraguay intensifies preparations to host the continent’s premier multisport event for young athletes. This progress also reinforces the country’s ambition to become a regional hub for international sporting events, part of a national strategy that seeks to boost investment, capacity building, and global recognition through sport.

Inspection of venues and progress in organization

Over the two days, the Panam Sports delegation, together with specialists in areas such as sports operations, health, technology, marketing, and communications, toured the Olympic Park facilities and competition venues. They also held technical meetings with the Local Organizing Committee, national authorities, and representatives of government agencies involved in the legislation and logistics of the event.

One of the highlights of the visit was the inspection of the Olympic Park. The Panam Sports delegates toured the modern Aquatic Center, the field hockey stadium, the urban sports tracks, and the athlete service areas. They also verified the operational capacity of the International Broadcast Center and the broadcast infrastructure, which will ensure comprehensive global coverage.

“Paraguay is demonstrating its capacity”

During the meetings, detailed updates were presented on all operational areas of the Junior Pan American Games, including infrastructure, logistics, programming, medical services, and marketing. The presentations covered everything from legal and institutional frameworks to progress at the venues, technological systems, volunteer programs, and international promotion strategies.

Jimena Saldaña, Secretary General of Panam Sports, noted that “the visit to Asunción confirms the commitment and tangible progress in the organization of the Junior Pan American Games. Paraguay is demonstrating its capacity to host this continental event. We will continue to support this process with enthusiasm.”

Future plans and vision beyond 2025

For his part, Camilo Pérez López Moreira, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and member of the IOC, commented that “the visit by Panam Sports confirms the maturity of our project. Thanks to the decisive support of President Santiago Peña and the enactment of Laws No. 3449/2025 and No. 7452/2025, we have established a legal and organizational environment that facilitates the staging of top-level events.”

At the end of the visit, the Panam Sports commissions confirmed progress in each area and established a schedule for future visits. The LOC will present detailed reports on the final budget, awarded contracts, and certifications of completed works before August 2025, in addition to intensifying promotional efforts to maximize ticket sales and improve brand visibility abroad.

2030 Youth Olympic Games

On May 16, 2025, the Paraguayan Olympic Committee submitted its bid for the 2031 Pan American Games to the Panam Sports Executive Committee in Miami. At the same time, Paraguay is also seeking to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games in Asunción, following a successful visit by President Santiago Peña to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne on January 31, 2025.

Paraguay is also preparing to host the World Rally Championship from 2025 to 2027, the World Skate Games in 2026, and the World Youth Championships in Weightlifting and Track Cycling in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

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The presentation marked the first opportunity for Paraguay to outline its initial plans after the candidature was ratified by Panam Sports earlier in May. Camilo Pérez López Moreira, President of the POC and a Member of the International Olympic Committee, emphasized Paraguay’s vision to use sport as a tool for development and growth across the Americas.

He was joined by key figures, including Paraguay’s Minister of Sports César Ramírez, POC First Vice-President Julio Ferrari, POC Secretary General Juan Carlos Orihuela, Deputy Director General of the Organizing Committee for Major Sporting Events of Paraguay Larissa Schaerer, and Tokyo 2020 Olympic heptathlete Camila Pirelli.

World-class venues and sustainable infrastructure

The venue plan for the 2031 Pan American Games includes state-of-the-art facilities at the Paraguayan Olympic Park and the National Sports Secretariat. Most of these venues are already operational and in daily use, ensuring top-tier conditions for athletes.

A key feature of the bid is the Pan American Village, located less than 30 minutes from all proposed venues. Designed to accommodate 7,200 athletes and 2,800 officials, the village will be transformed into affordable housing after the Games, aligning with Paraguay’s long-term housing policy.

Government support and legal framework

Paraguay’s bid is strongly supported by the country’s President, Santiago Peña, and backed by a pioneering legal framework that facilitates the organization of major events. This framework, successfully implemented during the 75th FIFA Congress, includes visa exemptions and expedited entry for accredited officials and personnel.

Paraguay’s steady growth as a regional sports hub is evident in its upcoming events, including the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, the World Rally Championship (2025-2027), the 2026 World Skate Games, and the 2027 and 2028 World Youth Championships in Weightlifting and Track Cycling, respectively. The country is also bidding to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games.

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One of the pillars of the bid is the investment in exchange and technical training programs for sports professionals throughout the continent. This effort will be led by the Rio-2031 Committee, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC), the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (BPC) and other national federations. In addition, the Olympic Educational Gymnasiums program, which currently benefits more than 6,000 students in 12 schools, will be expanded.

Infrastructure and Games Schedule

The Pan American Games are scheduled to be held from August 8 to 24, 2031, while the Parapan American Games will be held from September 7 to 16. The competitions will be distributed in five zones: Barra, Copacabana, Deodoro, Porto Maravilha and Niterói, taking advantage of the existing Olympic facilities in Rio de Janeiro to avoid unnecessary expenses.

The Pan American Village will be located in the Port Zone and will have seven residential towers offering accommodation for 7,500 athletes and 2,800 officials. The soccer competitions, in addition to being played at the Maracana, will be held in stadiums in other cities such as Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Salvador and São Paulo.

Niteroi and Rio: tradition and experience

The joint bid combines Niterói’s tradition of training talent with Rio’s experience in organizing major events. According to the mayor of Niterói, Rodrigo Neves, “there will be a legacy in urban development, sports and mobility that will benefit the entire metropolitan region”. In addition, the deputy mayor of Niterói, Isabel Swan, highlighted the importance of the event to “inspire future generations”, based on her experience as an Olympic medalist in sailing.

Funding and private sector support

The estimated budget for organizing the Games is US$667 million, with most of the funds coming from the private sector. According to Guilherme Schleder, Rio’s Municipal Sports Secretary, “the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games gave us the formula to organize a great event: no waste of public funds, strong private partnerships and an efficient legacy.”

With the bid confirmed, Rio-Niterói 2031 will launch its international campaign to obtain the necessary votes in the Panam Sports electoral college, composed of 41 National Olympic Committees and a total of 53 votes. The president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Marco La Porta, expressed his confidence in the bid, highlighting that “these events reinforce the objective of transforming Brazil into a true Sports Nation”.

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The Rio-Niterói 2031 bid logo is composed of colored rays that symbolize bridges, both real and symbolic, between the two cities. The curved and dynamic shapes represent the sun as a symbol of renewal and hope, as well as the movement of sport and life. The warm shades of orange and yellow represent Niterói, known as the city of the setting sun, while the blue tones evoke the sea, the sky and the vibrant energy of Rio de Janeiro. Together, these hues intertwine like an embrace, reflecting the connection and energy of this joint project.

A sporting and urban legacy for the metropolitan region

During the presentation, the mayor of Niterói, Rodrigo Neves, highlighted the positive impact this bid could have on the metropolitan region. “This will not only be a legacy for Niterói and Rio, but also for the entire region, in terms of urban infrastructure, sports and mobility,” he said.

For his part, Eduardo Paes stressed the importance of the Olympic legacy in the bid. “We launched this logo in a school that represents the legacy of the Olympic Games. This space, which was the Carioca 3 Arena, is now a school for a thousand students, focused on education and sport,” he said.

Next steps for the Rio-Niterói 2031 bid

The next key step for the bid will be the delivery of the official dossier, scheduled for April 30. This document will be evaluated by the Pan American Sports Organization -Panam Sports-, which will make the candidate cities official the following day.

Besides Rio and Niteroi, only Asuncion, Paraguay, has expressed interest in hosting the 2031 Games. The election of the winning city is scheduled for August, with date and place yet to be defined.

An event that celebrates the union of the Americas

The logo also celebrates the transformative power of sport and its ability to unite the peoples of the Americas. Beyond the competition, the 2031 Pan American Games will be a sporting celebration that will leave a legacy of cooperation and development among the participating nations.

The president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, Marco La Porta, expressed his confidence in the impact of this bid. “This bid will further promote the practice of sports, and I am sure that both Rio and Niteroi will benefit greatly,” he concluded.

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