If Asuncion is chosen, El Salvador will be a sub-host for Pan American surfing

The continuity of Pan-American surfing, whether Panam Sports chooses Lima or the Paraguayan capital, seems to be guaranteed for 2027

March 7th, 2024

Cover photo: Punta Roca by WSL/Beatryz Ryder

If the city of Asunción is chosen by Panam Sports on March 12, 2024 as the host city for the 2027 Panama American Games, the sub-headquarters for surfing and all its disciplines will be El Salvador, the Olympic committee of this country reported in an official statement.

“The Olympic Committee of El Salvador, with the full support of the Government of the Republic of El Salvador, through the National Institute of Sports (INDES), has made arrangements with the Olympic Committee of Paraguay, which has presented Asunción to Panam Sports as a candidate for the 2027 Pan American Games, so that surfing, in all its modalities, can be developed in the sub-venue of El Salvador, in case the continental event is awarded to this candidacy,” the statement said.

And he added: “If Asunción is chosen by Panam Sports, this dream would become a reality and El Salvador would be the first Central American country in history to host Pan American Games competitions. This is a new example that the joint work between institutions bears fruit for the benefit of Salvadoran sport. The comprehensive support of INDES, the government project Surf City and the search for international sport through the Olympic Committee of El Salvador, continue to put our country in the sights of the best sporting events in the world.”

Weeks ago, after the candidacy of Barranquilla, Colombia was dropped due to not meeting the requirements of the Pan American authority, PanamSports, they announced that the two finalist cities are Lima and Asunción.

For surfing, the second one seemed like bad news for the obvious reasons of not having waves.

On that occasion, the president of the Pan American Surfing Association, Karín Sierralta, declared: “Asuncion would have to build a wave pool, which would increase the budget, in addition to a legacy where there are no athletes. It would be great for our sport, but I see it as unlikely.”

With this news it seems that the continuity of surfing, whether in Lima or Asunción, via El Salvador, is guaranteed.