The Bolivarian Games will be postponed to 2021 and 2022

The Bolivarian Sports Organization (Odebo) officially announced to the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE) the postponement of the Bolivarian Youth Games and the Bolivarian Games to 2021 and 2022, respectively.

After the virtual meeting of the Odebo's Executive Committee, it was determined that the Bolivarian Youth Games in Sucre, Bolivia, will be postponed to 2021, while the Bolivarian Games in Valledupar, Colombia, will be moved to 2022.

"The Executive Committee analyzed the special circumstances that the host countries of our upcoming events are experiencing, due to the negative effects of COVID-19 on their economies, and at their request, the following changes were approved", the statement extended to the COE says.

The event in Sucre was scheduled for April 24, 2021. "We will manage with the South American confederations of each sport of the Games program to preserve the age requirements of the initial call, and a flexible approach will be given to the long list regarding possible name changes," the organization stated.

• President of the COE seeks to motivate athletes to believe in their possibilities to go to Tokyo.

The games in Valledupar have been postponed to June 3, 2022. "However, after the meeting, we were informed about the second round of the presidential elections that will take place on June 19, which would require us to change the date of the Games, possibly to the last week of June and the first week of July, subject to approval by the executive," it says.

The statement also clarifies that "the age requirements for some sports will be reviewed with their respective South American confederation".

The Odebo's Executive Committee also stated their position regarding these changes: "they are conditioned to the pandemic, as the main priority is the health of the athletes and the safe development of the Games without the risk of contagion". (D)