The Panam Sports this week issued a communique informing the public that its executive committee had unanimously decided to withdraw Barranquilla, Colombia as the Host City of the the XX Pan American Games.

The communique, issued on January 3, in Mexico City states that “The resolution has been taken following several breaches of the Host City Contract.”

The communique further reads: “It should be noted that on October 19 at a meeting in Santiago, Chile following the receipt of an official letter from the Colombian authorities dated October 25, Barranquilla requested an extension of the deadline to comply with the contract. “The proposal was accepted by Panam Sports which provided new deadlines of December 30, 2023 and January 30, 2024.

“However, since the new deadline passed with no response, on January 3, 2024, the Panam Sports Executive Committee has made the unwavering decision to remove the rights to be the Host City of the continental Games in 2027.

“Panam Sports profoundly regrets this situation but has made this decision with the future of the greatest multi-sport event of the Americas and the athletes of the continent in mind”.

The Pan American Games, held every four years, is an international multi-sports event in the Americas and is held in the year before the Summer Olympics. It is said to gather the most athletes after the Olympic Games. The next Games are scheduled for 2027.