Ecuador's South American Games participation at risk due to time, says Olympic chief Pérez

Jefferson Pérez, the newly elected president of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE), warned on Saturday that Ecuador's participation in the South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina, is in jeopardy due to a lack of time. However, he expressed optimism that the situation can be resolved.

"After an evaluation today, Ecuador is at risk of not going to the South American Games due to lack of time, but I have faith that we will work with national authorities, leadership, control bodies, the General Comptroller's Office, and the Ministry of Sports to be able to send our athletes to the South American Games," Pérez stated.

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After an evaluation today, Ecuador is at risk of not going to the South American Games due to lack of time, but I have faith that we will work with national authorities, leadership, control bodies, the General Comptroller's Office, and the Ministry of Sports to be able to send our athletes to the South American Games.

The former Olympic race walking champion, who won gold at Atlanta 1996 and silver at Beijing 2008, described the situation as "extremely critical." He likened it to being "down 2-0 in the first half due to time issues, but I believe that if we all put our shoulder to the wheel, we can turn the score around."

Pérez, an industrial engineering graduate with a master's in business administration, also thanked directors Manuel Bravo, John Zambrano, Francisco Torres, and Jorge Delgado for inviting him to join the COE board as vice president in May 2025. He assumed the presidency following Delgado's resignation after the Ecuadorian government's temporary intervention in the COE on July 15. The intervention stemmed from issues surrounding Delgado's re-election in May 2025, as his board was not recognized by Ecuadorian sports organizations.

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the situation is extremely critical, by which, we are losing the first half by 2 to 0 due to time issues, but I believe that if we all put our shoulder to the wheel, we can turn the score around.