The Colombian city of Barranquilla has been disqualified as the host of the 2027 Pan American Games by Panam Sports, the organizing body responsible for the event. This decision comes as a result of Barranquilla’s repeated failure to meet its contractual obligations, leading to the revocation of its hosting rights.

Despite receiving multiple deadlines to fulfill its obligations, Barranquilla was unable to meet the requirements set by Panam Sports. As a result, the executive committee of Panam Sports made the “indeclinable decision” to remove Barranquilla as the host of the Pan American Games in 2027. While the specific details of the unmet obligations were not disclosed, it is evident that Barranquilla did not meet the expectations outlined in the contract.

Following this decision, Barranquilla’s mayor, Alejandro Char, has expressed hope that the city could still host the event and has called on Colombia’s President Gustavo Preto to intervene. Char believes that the city has the financial resources necessary to organize the event, despite no longer being the host for 2027.

Now that Barranquilla is no longer the host for the 2027 Pan American Games, Sao Paulo, Brazil has emerged as the sole bidder to host the 2031 edition of the event. There have been speculations in the local media that Sao Paulo could offer to replace Barranquilla four years in advance, however, this has not been confirmed by the city hall.

The decision to remove Barranquilla as the host of the 2027 Pan American Games raises significant questions about the future of the event and the selection of a new host city. With Sao Paulo potentially stepping up as a replacement, the dynamics of the Pan American Games are likely to undergo changes in the coming years. For more coverage of international sporting events, including the upcoming Paris Olympics, please visit the following link: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games.