2021 Junior Pan American Games


The 2021 Junior Pan American Games is a forthcoming international multi-sports event for athletes aged 18 to 21 in the Americas, organized by Panam Sports to be held in Cali, Colombia between June 5 and 19, 2021.

Candidate cities

The deadline for the presentation of candidacy to organize the first Junior Pan American Games was January 31, 2019, on which date Cali, Santa Ana, and Monterrey were selected as host city candidates by Panam Sports. Cali was chosen as the host city by the Executive Committee in San José, Costa Rica on March 27, 2019.

[Cali], Colombia

President Baltazar Medina noted that the reason Cali applied to host the games was to open the possibility of Colombia hosting larger multi-sports events, such as the Bolivarian Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Cali would be the main city for the games, while Palmira, Buga, and Calima El Darién would act as sub-centers. Notably, 2021 will be the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Pan American Games, which is the last time that Cali hosted the Pan American Games.

Santa Ana">Santa Ana, El Salvador">Santa Ana, El Salvador

On January 29, 2019, Mayoress of Santa Ana Milena Calderón Sol de Escalón confirmed that the city would apply to be the host of the inaugural games, stating, "We are preparing all the presentations we have to do before the International Olympic Committee. It will be in Costa Rica where El Salvador, through Santa Ana, will be presented."

[Monterrey], Mexico

President of the Mexican Olympic Committee Carlos Padilla Becerra expressed interest in Monterrey hosting the inaugural Junior Games, stating, "Mexico hopes that the competition can take place in Monterrey in 2021; it is a city that has the adequate infrastructure to carry them out, and it a minimum expenditure would be necessary." However, there was a risk from lack of government support that caused the bid to be eliminated from the final vote. Monterrey will wait until the 2nd edition in 2025.