Games-Paraguay's sporting dreams take shape with Junior Pan Ams and 2031 bid

Paraguay has launched an ambitious bid to host the 2031 Pan American Games, using this month's Junior Pan Ams as a high-stakes dress rehearsal, Olympic Committee president Camilo Perez said — aiming to emerge as the region's next sporting hub.

With 4,200 athletes from 41 countries competing across 42 disciplines in newly built venues around Asuncion, the South American nation is positioning itself as a serious contender - offering disciplined budgets and expanding infrastructure.

"We'll keep working. It's up to the Pan Am Sports presidents to decide if they trust us for future events," Paraguayan Olympic Committee president Camilo Perez told Reuters.

"Hearing countries like the U.S. and Canada, which we once saw as unreachable, say they're happy to bring hundreds of athletes here fills me with pride."

The Junior Games follow Paraguay's successful hosting of the 2022 South American Games, and precede a packed schedule of events - including rounds of the World Rally Championship, the 2026 World Skate Games, and the 2027 Junior World Weightlifting Championships.

It is also expected to host a match in the opening stage of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, marking the tournament's centenary.

Paraguay faces stiff competition from Rio de Janeiro, which hosted the 2007 Pan Ams and the 2016 Summer Olympics, along with neighbouring Niteroi. Rio's post-event economic struggles and underused venues remain a cautionary tale for prospective hosts.

Much of Paraguay's 2031 bid relies on upgrades to Asuncion's Olympic Park, its new Aquatic Centre, expanded stadiums, modernized pavilions, and dedicated contact-sport venues — a lasting legacy for national federations.

A key feature is a new athletes' village, part of a government housing initiative