How Paraguay’s capital navigated a turbulent path to host the 2022 South American Games
In short: The 2022 South American Games in Asunción faced a dramatic reversal of fortune. After initially securing the bid, the Paraguayan government briefly withdrew, citing a need to prioritize healthcare infrastructure. Yet, the city ultimately hosted the event, transforming its sports landscape through a series of significant budget adjustments.
The journey to the XII South American Games began in September 2017 when the head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Camilo Pérez López Moreira, sought approval from then-President Horacio Cartes to pursue the bid. At that time, organizers estimated that hosting the event would require an investment of 25 million USD. By December 2017, the South American Sports Organization unanimously selected Asunción as the host city, as it was the only official candidate to submit a proposal by the November 2019 deadline.
The project encountered a major obstacle in July 2019 when the National Secretary of Sports announced that Paraguay would step down as host. The government redirected the allocated funds toward building a hospital in Barrio Obrero and supporting other public health initiatives. However, the situation shifted again by October 2019, when Camilo Pérez confirmed that Asunción would proceed with organizing the Games. This decision necessitated complex financial planning, as the initial capital budget was eventually scaled down to 80 million USD following various government-mandated cuts.
To accommodate the multi-sport event, which took place from October 1 to 15, 2022, organizers utilized a variety of venues across the region. These included the Paraguayan Olympic Park and the Sportivo Luqueño Club in Luque, as well as the bay of Asunción. A dedicated South American Village was constructed in Mariano Roque Alonso, spanning 17.5 hectares. The competition featured 34 sports, including optional additions like bodybuilding and futsal, while chess and padel were included as exhibition events. The Games also marked a milestone for Curaçao, which participated for the first time in the event's history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 South American Games
- Also: Wikidata — 2022 South American Games · CC0
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