On-the-Scene -- Lima Favored to Host 2019 Pan Am Games

(ATR) Lima seems to be pulling away in the final hours before the vote for a 2019 Pan American Games host city.

The vote is scheduled for tomorrow, the final day of the Pan American Sports Organization General Assembly in Toronto.

Lima is running against Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela; La Punta, Argentina; and Santiago, Chile.

Heading in to this week’s meeting, Lima and Santiago were seen as the clear frontrunners, being major capital cities. Ciudad Bolivar is a small city that is difficult to get to. La Punta would be built if they are elected 2019 host and campaigned on being the first new city in the Americas in a century.

Working in Peru’s favor is the strong delegation from the government, headed by Prime Minister Juan Jimenez Mayor.

Additionally, reports surfaced in Venezuelan media that the Lima bid was attempting to buy the votes of PASO delegates. The reports were then carried by Chilean news outlets.

Peruvian Olympic officials denied the reports and multiple National Olympic Committee presidents told Around the Rings the reports are false. Speaking anonymously to ATR, one NOC president said the reports seemed like a "desperate" act.

Additionally, delegates cited Lima’s strong PR campaign as a linchpin to its success.

Friday will be dedicated to the 2019 vote. The four cities will make presentations in the morning with the vote taking place in the afternoon. Twenty-six votes are needed to win the Pan American Games.

Reported by Ed Hula IIIin Toronto

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