Colombian city of Santa Marta to host 2017 Bolivarian Games

The President of the Bolivarian Sport Organization (Odebo), Danilo Carrera, ratified the Colombian city of Santa Marta (north) as the host of the 2017 Bolivarian Games, international media reported on Wednesday.

According to Cuban news agency Prensa Latina, Carrera visited Santa Marta and met with the city mayor, Rafael Alejandro Martinez, and with the President of the Colombian Olympic Committee (COC), Baltazar Medina, where both officials showed the progress on the preparations of the event.

Carrera led the Odebo delegation that visited several sports facilities in Santa Marta, as well as other fields where new sports complexes will be built for the Bolivarian Games in 2017.

"There is no turning back. Santa Marta will be the seat of the games. They have the support of the national and local government and also our support," said Carrera.

Odebo will periodically visit Santa Marta to follow the progress of the working schedule.

The President of COC said he is pleased with the ratification of Santa Marta as host of the Bolivarian Games next year and congratulated the city government for the progress in the organization.

For the games, Santa Marta's authorities will build new sports facilities to host soccer, baseball, softball, athletics, as well as a new Olympic pool, BMX cycling track, two coliseums, skatedrome and a new arena for several sports.