Panam Sports and the Colombian government have decided to postpone the First Junior Pan American Games by about two months due to the coronavirus pandemic, they announced last Wednesday.
The decision to move them to November 25-December 5, 2021 was to ensure “safer Games by allowing more time for the host country and participating nations to further advance their processes of vaccination against VOCID-19.”
The Games will still take place in Cali, Colombia. More than 3,800 athletes are expected to compete from 41 countries in the Americas in 39 sports including swimming.
It’s important to note that the Americas don’t have much access to COVID-19 vaccinations yet and therefore have slower vaccination rates.
The host country of Colombia is experiencing a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases currently and has vaccinated 7.5 percent of its population, Reuters has reported.
Mexico has vaccinated about 9.1 percent of its population, according to Reuters, after enduring a spike in cases two months ago.
Brazil is currently hit the hardest, though, with an average of 64,304 new cases daily in the past week. They have now vaccinated 12.9 percent of their population. Both Brazil and Mexico experienced severe oxygen shortages which have increased their deaths caused by COVID-19.
“The decision we have made is very positive,” Cali-Valle 2021 Executive Director Jose Luis Echeverry said in the press release. “It will be very beneficial to be able to wait a little longer given the emergency caused by Covid-19 not only in Colombia but throughout the continent.
“With this new date, it gives us the possibility of having a safer Games for everyone because when the time comes, we will have a higher vaccination rate in the host country.”
The Junior Pan American Games were originally scheduled for September 9-19, 2021. They are an opportunity for athletes to earn a spot at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games. Swimmers who earn gold in an event can compete at the Pan American Games.