PANAM SPORTS ELECTS NEW VICE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER

Photo courtesy Panam Sports

Article courtesy of Panam Sports

SANTIAGO, CHILE. - SANTIAGO, CHILE (October 18, 2023) — Panam Sports welcomes two new changes to the Executive Committee during the LXI General Assembly in Santiago, Chile ahead of the 19th edition of the Pan American Games.

Following Jimena Saldaña’s new role as Secretary General of Panam Sports, the position of 2nd Vice President previously held by Saldaña was vacated. Today, the 14 countries that form Group 1 voted to elect former United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee President Susanne Lyons as a new Vice President of Panam Sports.

Lyons will officially be the 3rd Vice President of Panam Sports, as the previous 3rd Vice President, Keith Joseph of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is promoted to the 2nd Vice President position according to the Panam Sports constitution. Lyons was elected in a close and private vote against Juan Santiago Estrada from Nicaragua.

“It's a great honor to be elected to represent Group 1 as their Third Vice President. I'm really looking forward to advancing our common goals for Panam Sports, for all of our NOCs and especially all of our athletes that we are so proud to serve,” Susanne Lyons told Panam Sports following the conclusion of Day 1 of the General Assembly.

"One of my first goals is making these Games a wonderful success here in Santiago and hopefully sending many of our athletes off to Paris. Then I'm looking forward to our Best Practices Seminar in Florida where we have a chance to help everyone get a little bit better. I aim to bring NOCs together to work towards a common goal, empower athletes to reach their potential, and seize the opportunities presented by the Games. Through these efforts, I hope to leave a lasting legacy of growth and success for Americas' Olympic Movement,” Lyons added.

Given that Lyons was already a Member of the Executive Committee in Group 1 prior to the election, a second vote was held to determine who would replace Lyons as a Member in Group 1. Once the results were counted, Mario Garcia de la Torre, the Secretary General of the Mexican Olympic Committee, was announced as the newest Member of the Panam Sports Executive Committee.

The Panam Sports General Assembly will conclude on October 19 ahead of the official start of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games and the incredible Opening Ceremony taking place on October 20.