2024-01-05 21:36:02
BUCARAMANGA, Colombia (AP) — The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, sent a letter on Friday to the management of Panam Sports in an attempt to reverse his decision to withdraw Barranquilla as the venue for the XX Pan American Games, which has generated criticism to the government and great debate in the South American country.
The letter was released to the press by the Presidency and is addressed to Neven Ilic, president of Panam Sports, and the Executive Committee, which unanimously decided on Wednesday to withdraw the right to Colombia due to “innumerable” breaches of the current contract.
“As president of the Republic and head of the administration, I am writing to you to express our will and commitment to overcome any obstacle that has given rise to the decision,” Petro said in the letter that did not include a proposal to make the disbursement of missed payments amounting to millions of dollars.
Petro assured that Colombia “is up to the task of organizing and hosting” the competitions in 2027 and advocated not losing the “opportunity to be able to give our athletes all our support in the largest multidisciplinary sporting event on the continent.”
Colombia was going to hold the Pan American Games for the second time in its history since 1971 when Cali served as the host city.
The Caribbean city of Barranquilla was announced in 2021 as the venue for the next Pan American Games, acquiring a contractual commitment with the Pan American Sports Organization, Panam Sports.
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