The highly anticipated election for the presidency of Panam Sports culminated on the first day of the LXII General Assembly, with current president Neven Ilic securing another four-year term. Ilic, who has been at the helm of Panam Sports since 2017, triumphed over his opponent, Keith Joseph, President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and second vice-president of Panam Sports.

In a decisive result, Ilic garnered 37 votes, while Joseph received 16, ensuring Ilic's leadership for the 2024-2028 period. This marks Ilic's third consecutive term, solidifying his role as the driving force behind the Pan American Olympic movement.

“I want to thank all those who supported me, for allowing me to finish this project. These elections are over and I can say that we are a great group. Everyone is part of this project. Of course, I thank my friend Keith Joseph. We will continue working so that the Americas remain a stellar continent,” Ilic said in his victory speech.

Despite his defeat, Joseph's campaign highlighted his experience within the Olympic movement and his vision for elevating Caribbean and American sport on the global stage. However, the majority of voters remained committed to Ilic, who has overseen significant developments in Panam Sports during his tenure, including the expansion of the Pan American Games and increased support for member nations.

In addition to the presidential election, the assembly also elected new Vice Presidents and members of the Executive Board. Veda Bruno Victor from Grenada, Camilo Pérez from Paraguay, and Sarah Hirshland from the United States were elected as the organization's Vice Presidents.

The assembly further solidified its leadership structure with the election of Executive Board members for the 2024-2028 period, ensuring broad representation across the Americas. Among the newly elected board members are Mario Garcia (Mexico), Tricia Smith (Canada), Damaris Young (Panama), Alfred Emmanuel (Saint Lucia), Dennis Knight (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Roberto Richards (Cuba), Nicole Hoevertsz (Aruba), Mario Moccia (Argentina), and Jorge Delgado (Ecuador).

As Ilic begins his third term as president, the focus now shifts to his continued efforts to elevate the stature of Pan American sports on the global stage. Meanwhile, Joseph's defeat does not diminish his influence in regional sports, and he will continue to play a significant role in the Caribbean sporting community.

With new leadership cemented, Panam Sports is set for another dynamic four years, with a fresh emphasis on further growth and collaboration across the Americas.