Chile's Pan Am delegation visits St. Kitts

Basseterre, June 29 (IANS/CMC) A delegation from the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Chile arrived in St. Kitts as the South American country bids to host the 2019 Pan American Games.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC) confirmed the visit of the Chilean delegation and also said a delegation from the NOC of Peru is expected in July.

The delegation from Chile, which came Friday and will depart Saturday, includes NOC President Neven Illic, Vice President Miguel Angel Mujica, Director Jorge Silva and Advisor Gonzalo Escobedo.

The Chilean NOC delegation is expected to meet with the SKNOC Executive and representatives of member federations and athletes to make its case as to why it should be given the privilege to host the 2019 edition of the Pan American Games.

Four NOCs and their respective cities have formally presented their bids to host the Games. They are Chile, Argentina, Peru and Venezuela.

All 42 NOCs countries that comprise the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO) have a vote to determine which country has the privilege of hosting the quadrennial Pan American Games with those NOCs/countries/cities that have hosted the Games previously enjoying multiple votes.

"It is therefore not unusual to witness bidding cities arranging visits to respective member NOCs of the PASO Movement to plead their case, make their sales pitch, promote the attributes of their particular bids and otherwise engage the NOCs in an effort to incorporate any recommendations for further enhancement of their bids," the SKNOC stated.

The vote to decide who will host the 2019 Pan Am Games will be taken at the next General Assembly of PASO, scheduled for October 2013 in the city of Toronto - host of the 2015 edition.

--IANS/CMC

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