On-the-Scene -- 2019 Pan Am Bids Report

(ATR) The four bid cities for the 2019 Pan American Games made their presentations to the Pan American Sports Organization on Friday. Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela; La Punta, Argentina; Lima, Peru; and Santiago, Chile presented in that order.

Each bid was granted 45 minutes to speak.

There are 57 votes, and 50 percent plus 1 votes is required to win; in this case, 29 votes will be necessary to secure the bid.

Voting is taking place now.

Below are highlights from each presentation, presented in order of presentation.

Ciudad Bolivar

A Pan American Games in Ciudad Bolivar would be environmentally friendly, Eduardo Alvarez Camacho, president of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee, said.

"You will breathe clean air. We are trying to substitute the visiting of malls and commercial centers with visits to natural parks."

He said major buildings were "swapped for trees" in the design for the Games.

Alejandro Benitez Romero, minister of sports for Venezuela, said the country is a crossroads for PASO.

"It’s a Latin American country, Caribbean, and the door to South America."

Bolivar played up its proximity to PASO countries, including a slide that showed how short flight times were from Caribbean countries to Venezuela. With more than 20 votes in the Caribbean, the bloc is by far the most influential voting group within PASO. NOC leaders in PASO say if you can secure the Caribbean vote, you will win the election.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made a videotaped presentation for PASO, saying, "We are planning to organize the best Pan American Games ever."

La Punta

The legacy of La Punta is a key theme for its bid.One direct aspect of the Games in La Punta would be felt until 2023.

Mario Moccia, secretary general of the Argentina Olympic Committee, said La Punta would continue to fund 50 scholarships for PASO athletes to train in La Punta until then.

He also said every athlete at the Games would plant a tree, creating a new forest in the first new city in the Americas this millennium.

La Punta is a new city. Its master plan says it would be finished if it wins the 2019 Pan American Games.

"La Punta will be a synonym for sports," Dario Rosas Curi, intendent of La Punta, said in his presentation. He also stressed the environmental legacy of La Punta and said it too would be a "green Games."

"We know that green is the color of hope," he said. "The hope that motivates our dreams."

Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said in a videotaped message that she is "absolutely convinced" La Punta would be the best Games.

Lima

Peru’s Prime Minister Juan Jimenez Mayor made a personal presentation for Lima’s bid, the highest-ranking official present for any of the bids.

Mayor told delegates, "When I took office in 2012, I knew that the Pan American Games in Peru would be a priority for our government."

Lima’s presentation was long on the country’s growing economic prowess and international reputation.

"As they say in English: Peru is open for business" Mayor said.

Lima’s mayor, Susanna Villaran, also pledged her enthusiasm for the bid.

"We want to go to the next level with our commitment to sports," she said. "The Pan American Games are the next step for us."

Jose Quinones, president of the Peruvian Olympic Committee, made a personal appeal to delegates.

"You have a true chance to make a difference for who we will be tomorrow," he said. "You have a choice to make a difference for sport."

Santiago

The trapped Chilean miners of 2010 were the story for Santiago.

Their story resonated throughout the bid’s presentation, including a surprise appearance from Luis Uruza, one of the miners.

"We want these Games in Chile. That’s all we want," he said.

He said "the same teamwork" used to rescue the miners would be used to stage the Games, andChilean President Sebastián Piñera echoed that feeling.

"With the same hope [with which] we found and rescued the miners, we are hoping for your vote," he said in a video.

"We want you to feel proud of what we can do for sports and good life in our continent."

Neven Ilic, president of the Chilean NOC, added, "We need this opportunity. Luis fought; we all fought for him. The Chilean sport needs this opportunity.

"Our project cannot end here."

Written by Ed Hula III.

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