Santiago Begins Delivery of the 2023 Pan Am Games

(ATR) Santiago 2023 meets first commitment with Panam Sports.

The new government of Chile has confirmed its support for the Pan American Games. This will be followed in the coming days with the formation of an organizing committee with the Chilean Olympic Committee.

COC President Miguel Angel Mujica tells Around the Rings that he has met several times with the designated Minister of Sports, Pauline Kantor. He says he has "the best relations" with Kantor, who took office this week along with President Sebastián Piñera, who served as Chile’s leader from 2010 to 2014.

Mujica says the new sports minister is committed to creating the organizing committee before May 4, the deadline set by Panam Sports.

Mujica also notes that the first installment of the rights fee due Panam Sports was paid by the Feb. 4 deadline. He says the payment of $250,000 is another example of the enthusiasm in Chile to host the Pan Am Games.

Ivar Sisniega, Panam Sports Secretary General confirms the relationship with Santiago is off to a good start.

"We know of the backing of Santiago 2023, which has already met its first commitment on time. Now we are waiting for its organizing committee," Sisniega tells ATR.

Sisniega is expected to report on progress in Santiago during the meeting this week of the Panam SportsExecutive Committee in Lima.

Beyond the formation of the organizing committee, construction of the Pan American Village is the next big project for the Chilean government. Mujica says he is not worried about construction for the Pan American Games. Chile offers nearly 90 percent of the infrastructure needed, he says.

Piñera, who will govern until 2022, wants to make the PanAm Games part of a massive campaign to emphasize sport called "Choose to Live Healthy". Sports Minister Kantor headed the program in the previous Piñera government.

Mujica is getting a first-hand view of preparations for the 2019 PanAms in Lima as a member of monitoring committee for infrastructure preparation. The other members include Haiti NOC secretary general Alain Jean Pierre and Panama NOC president Camilo Amado. The group visits Lima monthly.

The 2023 Pan American Games are scheduled to be held from October 6 to October 22, 2023. Santiago was unanimously elected as the host city in November.

The vote was taken at a Panam Sports assembly held on the sidelines of the ANOC General Assembly in Prague on November 4, 2017. The election was the first time a Pan Am host city was chosen at a meeting not held in the Americas.

2023 will mark the first time Chile hosts the Pan American Games. Santiago was initially awarded the 1975 and 1987 Pan Ams, but withdrew both times. Santiago bid for 2019, but came in second to Lima.

Reported by Miguel Hernandez.