2027 edition of the Pan American Games
The 2027 Pan American Games (Spanish: Juegos Panamericanos de 2027), officially the XX Pan American Games, is an upcoming international multi-sport event governed by the Panam Sports Organization. It will be held for the second time in Peru's capital, Lima.
Barranquilla, Colombia was initially announced as the host in August 2021. However, the city was stripped of its hosting rights in January 2024 after the country's Ministry of Sports failed to meet contractual obligation, as well as financial reasons.[1]
Bidding process
The bidding process to determine the host of the 2027 Pan American Games was to begin in January 2021. However, in July 2021, president of Panam Sports Neven Ilic confirmed that the bidding process would be postponed until January 2022. The deadline to submit bids for the event is November 15, 2021.[2]
First selection
Host city election
On August 27, 2021, at an event in Barranquilla, Colombia, it was announced that the city would be the host of the games.[3]
- No vote was held, Barranquilla was appointed as host city.
Interested cities
- Buenos Aires initially bid for the 2023 Pan American Games, but withdrew their bid for financial reasons. Gerardo Werthein, the president of the Argentine Olympic Committee (COA), stated, "I would like Argentina to present its Olympic candidacy for 2032, but for now, I'm only thinking about [the PanAm Games in] 2027."[4]
- On January 14, 2019, the Minister of Sports of Bolivia, Tito Montaño expressed his interest for Bolivia to host the Pan American Games. Although a specific city had not been determined, Montaño stated that a candidate city would have been determined within the coming weeks since the announcement. Bolivia has never submitted a bid for the Pan American Games.[5][6]
- On October 24, 2018, Mayor of Barranquilla Alejandro Char confirmed Barranquilla's interest in the 2023 Pan American Games. After a successful hosting of the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, Char was inspired to meet with Panam Sports President Neven Ilić Álvarez. After the meeting, Char told reporters, "After this meeting I’m feeling more calm, confident and sure than ever that we can do it ... We are going to do everything in our power to make the advancements to hold the Games that Barranquilla wants and deserves."[7]
Removal of Barranquilla as host city
On January 3, 2024, Barranquilla was stripped of hosting rights by Panam Sports, due to the Colombian national and local authorities headed by the Ministry of Sports failing to meet contractual obligations, as well as failing to arrange the payment corresponding to the rights to hold the competitions before December 31, 2023.[8] Panam Sports have also considered legal action for damages of $8 million caused by the breach of contract.[9]
A few days after Barranquilla was withdrawn, the Colombian Olympic Committee president Ciro Solano; regarding the Asunción bid, accused Paraguayan sport officials of interfering with Barranquilla’s hosting, claiming that, in an interview with AFP, "Paraguay has been insisting on holding the [2027 PanAm] Games since August".[10]
Second selection
Host city election
The new host was confirmed at a virtual Extraordinary General Assembly on March 12, 2024. [11][12]
Bidding results
| City
|
NOC name
|
Votes
|
| Lima |
 Peru
|
28
|
| Asunción |
 Paraguay
|
24
|
Confirmed candidates
- Asunción will host the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, and could act as a dress rehearsal if Asunción were to replace Barranquilla. If their bid was successful, it would have marked the first time that Paraguay has hosted the main Pan American Games. In addition, the El Salvador Olympic Committee had confirmed its candidacy as a sub-host, as if Asunción were to have hosted, El Salvador would host some events, making it the first Central American country to host any Pan American Games competitions. [14]
- Lima previously hosted the 2019 Pan American Games, and their bid would reuse infrastructure from those games, in line with sustainability and environmental standards. The president of Peru, Dina Boluarte would announce her support for the bid on 18 January 2024.[16]
Previously interested cities
- São Paulo previously hosted the 1963 Pan American Games, and has expressed interest in bidding for the 2031 Pan American Games. Brazil last hosted the Pan American Games in 2007 in Rio de Janeiro.
- Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, previously hosted the 2011 Pan American Games. On 16 January 2024, the Mexican Olympic Committee announced they would withdraw their bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics to focus on bidding for the Pan American Games and the Youth Olympic Games.[19]
