2021 Junior Pan American Games Confirmed By Panam Sports and Colombian Government

The Government of Colombia, led by President Ivan Doque, confirmed the country’s support for hosting the 2021 Junior Pan American Games today.
 

The news was delivered by Colombia’s Minister of Sport, Ernesto Lucerna Barrero, to Panam Sports President, Neven Ilic, during the Virtual Meeting of the Organizing Committee of the Cali-Valle 2021 Junior Pan American Games. 
 

The official dates of the Games were confirmed for September 9 to 19, 2021. It was also announced that Cali 2021 will be open to young athletes between the ages of 14 and 22.

The sports program for Cali 2021 will consist of 27 sports; 23 of which are core sports at the Summer Olympic Games. The following is a list of sports included on the sports program for Cali 2021: Aquatics (Diving, Swimming and Artistic Swimming), Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball 3x3, Bowling, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling (BMX, Mountain, Road and Track), Fencing, Gymnastics (Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline), Handball, Judo, Karate, Modern Pentathlon, Roller Sports (Artistic, Speed and Skateboarding), Rowing, Sailing, Shooting Sport (Pistol and Rifle), Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball (Beach and Indoor), Weightlifting and Wrestling (Freestyle and Greco-Roman). 

Additionally, in order to ensure the best young talent throughout the region participates in the Games, Panam Sports is offering qualification to the 2023 Pan American Games to the gold medalists in every individual sport.
 

Neven Ilic, Panam Sports President, was happy with the confirmation of the 2021 Junior Pan American Games, commenting “With the postponement of the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games, Cali 2021 will be the most important and massive sporting event in the world for young people in the coming years. I am sure it will be a spectacular sports festival that will serve as a launching point for our next generation of athletes and that Cali and the Colombians, as always, will be fantastic hosts.”
 

He added, “I want to sincerely thank the Colombian Government, President Duque, Minister Lucerna, Valle del Cauca Governor Clara Luz Roldan, Mayor of Cali Ivan Ospina and the Colombian Olympic Committee for trusting us as an organization, and for the commitment and passion they have shown to youth and sport throughout the continent.”

It is expected that more than 3,500 athletes from 41 countries will compete at Cali 2021.