The decision had been seen coming since last January 3, but, unfortunately for Colombia, it was confirmed this Thursday: Barranquilla definitively lost the venue for the 2027 Pan American Games.
A chain of errors triggered a series of non-compliance that ended up straining the patience of Panam Sports, which withdrew the organization from Colombia and this Thursday announced the new cities aspiring to host the tournaments: Lima (Peru) and Asunción (Paraguay).
This was, step by step, the path that the country took, from the moment it received the honor of making the Pan American Games until the final loss:
June 2021: Barranquilla receives the headquarters
Panam Sports delivers the headquarters of the 2027 Pan American Games to Barranquilla.
July 2022: the first breach
The first payment was due on July 30, 2022, but the money was not transferred. The Mindeporte at the time, Guillermo Herrera, argued that there was no time to do so, since they were close to handing over the portfolio to the new Government.
Guillermo Herrera, former Minister of Sports.
August 2022: Minister Urrutia shows little interest
María Isabel Urrutia was appointed Minister of Sports and no executive committee was appointed. He specified that the Games would not be held under his administration, so it was not in his interest to hold the games.
The above, taking into account that the nation would have to contribute more than 5 million dollars and the games would not be held in our administration.
Taking into account that Barranquilla and the Atlántico should be the ones who financially contribute most of the investment 2/3— María Isabel Urrutia Ocoró (@UrrutiaOcoro) July 28, 2022
August 2023: Petro proposes multiple headquarters
President Gustavo Petro's idea was to hold the Games not only in Barranquilla but in more cities on the coast such as Cartagena, Santa Marta, Valledupar, Montería and even San Andrés.
August 2023: Panam Sports' first warning
Panam Sports sent a letter to the Colombian Olympic Committee (COC) giving 60 days to comply with the Pan American Games contract.
October 2023: Colombia signs a payment commitment
Colombian forward traveled to Santiago, spoke with Panam Sports and promised to pay 8 million dollars in two cash payments, one before December 30 and another before January 31, 2024.
November 2023: Petro did not go to receive the Games flag
The President did not attend the closing of the Pan American Games in Santiago to receive the flag. It was done by the Minister of Sports, Astrid Rodríguez.
Minister Astrid Rodríguez and Mayor Jaime Pumarejo received the Pan-American flag.
Barranquilla Mayor's Press
December 2023: they ask for a new deadline
Mindeporte makes a proposal to Panam Sports to pay the 8 million dollars in January, since it cannot make the first payment before December 31.
January 3, 2024: Panam Sports says no and removes the headquarters
Neven Ilic sends a letter to the COC in which Panam Sports takes away the headquarters from Colombia “indeclinably.”
January 5: Panam Sports sets the conditions for new applicants
Panam Sports points out the key points for candidate cities to apply for the 2027 Games.
January 9: summit in the Palace
Gustavo Petro leads a meeting at Nariño's house to plan an advance in search of recovering the headquarters. He said he would go to Chile to meet with Ilic.
January 21: Gustavo Petro's controversial trill
Gustavo Petro trills that the deadline to pay the money to Panam Sports has not ended. “As far as I know, January 30 has not arrived. We are at 21.”
January 21: Panam Sports' letter to Petro
EL TIEMPO publishes a letter sent by Panam Sports to Gustavo Petro in which it explains the reasons why Colombia lost the venue. The president made reference to it this Friday, after the final loss.
This is the letter that Neven Ilic, president of Panam Sports, sent me.
In it you can see all the non-compliance that begins from the same year 2021 when Barranquilla was designated as the headquarters.
My government agreed in a meeting with Mr. Neven and the city of Barranquilla… pic.twitter.com/CRYTfaTLhq
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) February 2, 2024
January 28: Petro gives up traveling to Chile
Gustavo Petro's government canceled the trip to Santiago de Chile to meet with Neven Ilic.
January 29: door closes
Ciro Solano met with the executive committee of Panan Sports, but only one of the members, Ilic, spoke and told them to give up the idea.
February 1st: it's official, the headquarters was lost
Panam Sports sent a letter confirming that Lima and Asunción are the candidates to hold the 2027 Games.
LIMA AND ASUNCION ARE THE CANDIDATE CITIES FOR THE 2027 PAN AMERICAN GAMES. 🏟️
The capitals of Paraguay 🇵🇾 and Peru 🇵🇪 officially applied and among them will be the host city that will host the XX Pan American Games in history. pic.twitter.com/32d5kIqhit
— Panam Sports (@PanamSports) February 1, 2024
February 2: unrest in the COC
Ciro Solano warns that losing the venue for the fairs is a 'tremendous frustration'.
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