Chilean Capital Santiago has been confirmed host city of the 2023 Pan American Games after delegates of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) voted unanimously Saturday to approve the bid at its Assembly in Prague. Forty-one nations joined to support the plans.
Santiago ran the campaign unopposed after a bid from Buenos Aires was withdrawn earlier this year.
The South American city will host the Games from October 6 to October 24 and the companion Parapan American Games starting November 3 to November 11.
Organizers plan to leverage facilities built for the 2014 South American Games in Santiago, but many venues require additional work and the Athletes’ Village needs to be constructed on the old airport grounds. Estimates say a USD $500 million investment will be required. It is hoped that private sector investment will support the costs.
The Metro system, currently under construction, will be the hub of the transportation plan.
Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet proclaimed on Twitter (in Spanish) “The city of Santiago has been chosen to host the Pan American and Parapan American Games 2023. What good news to start this Saturday! ”
It is official, Santiago has been chosen as the host city of the XIX Pan American Games 2023. https://t.co/SNPDjP4B7N vía @YouTube
— Santiago 2023 (@Stgo2023) November 4, 2017
The previous Pan Am Games were staged in Toronto, Canada in 2015 and are set to be held in Lima, Peru in 2019. Flooding and economic hardship in the Peruvian Capital have created challenges to preparations for the Games, but organizers maintain that plans are on track.
Santiago was defeated in its previous bid to host the 2019 Pan Am Games.
