By Nick Butler at the InterContinental Hotel in Bangkok

A key PASO meeting will take place in Bangkok tomorrow ©PASOAn Extraordinary General Assembly of the Pan American Sports Organization will take place here tomorrow, with elections being held to decide three Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) representatives for the Americas.


The meeting, which will be held in the absence of PASO President Mario Vázquez Raña, is due to be held in the Centrara Grand Convention Centre, where the sports world is gathering ahead of the ANOC General Assembly, due to start on Friday (November 7).

PASO's annual meeting was initially due to take place from September 7 to 10 at the Mexican beach resort of Puerto Vallartahas, but has already been delayed once due to the poor health of Vázquez Raña.

The 82-year-old Mexican, who headed the Association of National Olympic Committees from 1979 to 2012, has not recovered sufficiently to attend this week, insidethegames understands. 

In his absence, Uruguay's vice-president and International Swimming Federation chief Julio Maglione will deliver the PASO report to the ANOC General Assembly on Friday.

PASO and former ANOC chief Mario Vázquez Raña is not attending the meeting tomorrow ©AFP/Getty ImagesPASO and former ANOC chief Mario Vázquez Raña is not attending the meeting tomorrow ©AFP/Getty Images



Among those considered to have a good chance of success in the elections for the Executive Council are Marcel Abut and Neven Ilic, Presidents of the Canadian Olympic Committee and Chilean Olympic Committee respectively, along with St Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee secretary general, Keith Joseph. 

PASO secretary general, Mexico's Jimena Saldana, a close ally of Vázquez Rañ, is set to remain the body's female member on the ANOC Executive Council, following the introduction of a new law ruling all continental federations must have at least one female representative.

The meeting is also seen as a good way for potential Presidential contenders to make their voice heard, for when Vázquez Raña does eventually step down.

It will be followed by a meeting of the Caribbean National Olympic Committees (NOCs), while the four other continental bodies will also meet in some capacity tomorrow.

A breakfast meeting of the Oceania National Olympic Committees is up first, followed by an Ordinary Session of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Executive Council.

It will be followed by a full ANOCA meeting later in the day.

An Advisory Committee meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia will also take place, before a European Olympic Committees Information Meeting.