(ATR) The Pan American Sports Organization enters a new era with the election of Neven Ilic as its ninth president.
Ilic prevailed in the third round of voting defeating Jose Puello at the General Assembly in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Ilic received 26 votes to Puello's 25.
During the first round of voting Puello received 23 votes, to Ilic and Carlos Nuzman's 14 each. A runoff was required to determined which candidate would join Puello in the final round. Ilic received 27 votes, where Nuzman received 23.
Speaking after the vote, IOC President Thomas Bach told Ilic that PASO can "depend on support," from the IOC going forward.
The election is the culmination of nearly two years of modernization and reforms, spearheaded after the death of longtime President Mario Vazquez Rana.
Ilic ran on a platform stressing professionalization and youth for the PASO Presidency. Ilic was the youngest candidate to stand for the presidency, and the only one who could be elected to the IOC. IOC President Thomas Bach said it was too soon to speculate on whether Ilic would be nominated for a seat.
"He has just been elected, There is nothing to be decided on this at the moment," he told Around the Rings after the vote.
After his election, Ilic must first address the status of the declining Pan American Games. Specifically, PASO must work to get the Lima 2019 edition of the Games back on track. Financial issues and construction concerns are currently threatening a scaled down version of the Games.
Ilic will also have to balance the demands of preparations for the 2023 Pan American Games. Santiago, Chile is the only bidder for the Games and is set to be confirmed as host later this year.
PASO and Ilic will also have to work to promote the Los Angeles 2024 bid in the coming months before a vote at the 2017 IOC Session in Lima.
More to come.
Written by Aaron Bauer
25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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