President Santiago Peña presented Paraguay’s bid to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games during a meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach at the Olympic House in Switzerland.
The bid was officially submitted on December 26 and presented during Friday’s meeting. Peña reaffirmed “Paraguay’s commitment to continuing its extensive experience as a host of major sustainable and impactful events.”
“We are committed to building a better future for our youth, and hosting the Youth Olympic Games will be a step in this mission. We want the Games to go beyond sports; we envision a celebration that integrates sports, cultural exchange, education, and Olympic values,” the President stated in remarks reported by the IOC.
The IOC president highlighted Paraguay’s interest and Peña’s “clear vision of the transformative power of sports, especially for young people.”
The Paraguayan president was accompanied by the president of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP), Camilo Pérez; Minister of Sports, César Ramírez; two-time Olympic rower, Alejandra Alonso; Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez; and Minister of Industry and Commerce, Javier Giménez, according to the IOC.
Bach visited Paraguay in October 2024, praising the National Government’s support for the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, strengthening the country’s bid for the 2030 Youth Olympic Games. This event would be the largest ever organised by Paraguay, with the participation of 211 countries. This year, the country will host the Junior Pan American Games and also aims to host the Pan American Games in 2031.
