The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) have announced on Saturday, 4 November, that the Chilean capital Santiago will host the seventh edition of the Parapan American Games in 2023. It will be the first time that the South American country stages the event.

The host city agreement was signed by the IPC President Andrew Parsons and IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez, the President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Chile Ricardo Elizalde, the Sports Minister of Chile Pablo Squella and the Intendant of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago Claudio Orrego.

Chile’s Ministry of Sports, NPC Chile and the Intendancy of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago will form the Local Organising Committee of the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games.

"Santiago is a beautiful and modern city that three years ago hosted the first Para South American Games in history and will with no doubt deliver again great Games in 2023."

Andrew Parsons said: “It is an important day for the Paralympic Movement in the Americas, with the official announcement of Santiago de Chile as the host city for the 2023 Parapan American Games. Santiago is a beautiful and modern city that three years ago hosted the first Para South American Games in history and will with no doubt deliver again great Games in 2023.

“I would like to congratulate NPC Chile, the Ministry of Sports and the Intendancy of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago and to thank PASO for the partnership. The APC-PASO agreement signed in 2015 is a milestone for the development of Para sports across the continent and it would not have been possible without the amazing work done by the late Jose Luis Campo [former APC President who died in October]. I take this opportunity to remember his legacy.”

This is the first time the Parapans’ host city is selected under the terms of the APC-PASO agreement, which states that both organisations will work jointly on the bid process for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

It employs the principle of “a host city for both Games” along the lines of the “One Bid, One City” agreement signed between the IOC and IPC in 2000 for the staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“For Chile this Games will be crucial for raising awareness of Para sports in our country. For the first time ever the host city contract for both the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games was signed together and we are really proud of it. NPC Chile has been part of the Organising Committee’s board since the beginning of the bid,” said Ricardo Elizalde.

The first Parapan American Games was held in Mexico City in 1999. Lima will stage the next edition and the biggest Parapans ever, with a record 1,850 athletes expected to compete across 17 sports, two more than Toronto 2015.