Paraguay is placing its pawns. The country's president, Santiago Peña, has met with IOC President Thomas Bachin Lausanne last Friday. The President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Camilo Pérez Lopez Moreira, the Minister of Sports César Ramirez and the Olympian Alejandra Alonso were also on the trip. At the heart of the discussions: Paraguay's candidacy to host the 2030 Youth Olympic Games. The YOG have only been held in South America once before, in Argentina in 2018. "We are committed to building a better future for our young people. Hosting the Youth Olympic Games would support this mission, President Peña stressed in a statement. Our wish is to make these Games much more than a sporting event. We see them as a festival that integrates sports, cultural exchanges, education and Olympic values, while serving as a platform to advance the careers of young athletes in sport and beyond.” Thomas Bach was sensitive to this approach, welcoming " Paraguayan President's clear vision for sport in his country and his strong understanding of how sport can transform lives, especially those of young people”. While the IOC has just awarded Winter YOG 2028 in Italy, Bach adds that the instance "is pleased to extend the discussions with the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and to follow the progress of his project”.
