Top Story Replay: Barranquilla is Just "Speculation"

(ATR) The Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO) will decide in the coming weeks the fate of the 2022 Central American and Caribbean Games in the wake of Panama's sudden withdrawal as host.

A first look at the "alternatives" came on Saturday during an extraordinary general assembly of CACSO, which, like last week's Sports Administration Seminar, was held by videoconference but "behind closed doors."

According to an official note, Sara Rosario of Puerto Rico, president of the Commission for New Venues, distributed "a brief report" virtually to the delegates of the 31 member countries.

The content was not made public but it is presumed that it alluded to

CACSO's initial efforts to save the considered oldest regional games in the world.

According to the Around the Rings tracking to date, four alternatives seem to be in the running. It is not ruled out that a country could host the Games in two (and up to three) cities to reduce expenses amid the terrible economic repercussions caused by the coronavirus health crisis.

Cities in Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador and Guatemala have come to light.

Prior to this general assembly, the mayor of Barranquilla, Jaime Pumarejo, told the local press that his city could handle it.

The Colombian city organized the last Games in 2018 and was left with an excellent infrastructure and the experience of the logistics staff.

Panama City had been granted the 2022 Games in 2017 after losing out to Barranquilla for the right to host the 2018 edition, to which Puerto La Cruz (Venezuela) also aspired.

The Barranquilla option could be the most viable of all but it needs the Colombian government to bear the logistics and implementation costs.

But the president of the Colombian Olympic Committee, Baltazar Medina, told Around the Rings that the Barranquilla nomination is more about "speculation or wishes of some in particular."

Medina commented that submitting any such proposal is up to the COC "and to date no authority in Barranquilla has let us know of such intention".

The interest of a Mexican city has also waned in the midst of the uncertainty of the pandemic. Weeks ago it was learned that León, Guanajuato, had to withdraw from efforts to host the regional Centennial Games of 2026 after failing to receive, according to the organizers, the official endorsement of the Mexican federal government.

Mayaguez, the Puerto Rican city that organized the 2010 Games, is also interested in 2022 but a potential bid will have to be analyzed by the new government which takes office on January 2.

Another alternative, although more remote and not confirmed, could be to hold the event in the Central American countries of El Salvador and Guatemala.

Written by Miguel Hernandez

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