After an enjoyable stay in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 15^th Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Janez Kocijančič has made a fact-finding visit to the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Representing the Olympic Movement of Europe, Kocijančič joined his Pan American colleagues at the Lima 2019 Opening Ceremony on 26 July and spent a few days in the Peruvian capital to get an insight into how the Games are staged in the Americas.

“I was very glad to see how our counterparts organise their continental Games, which have a long tradition,” said Kocijančič. “It is interesting to see their kind of approach as well as to find out what the similarities are between the Pan Ams and the European Games and what we can learn from each other. Cooperation and knowledge-sharing are crucial to progress.”

“I wish our Pan American friends every success for the continuation of Lima 2019, which are proving to be amazing Games.”

The Pan American Games will run from 26 July to 11 August and see around 6,700 athletes from 41 countries competing across 39 sports. Twenty-two disciplines will offer participants a chance to qualify for next year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Along with the Asian Games, the Pan American Games are the longest-running continental Games, both having started in 1951.