Vázquez Raña, 82, who has headed PASO since 1975, is understood to be too sick to attend, even though the event is taking place in his native Mexico.

He had also missed a PASO Extraordinary General Assembly held in Bangkok last November.

One Executive Committee member insisted that PASO was "running smoothly", in spite of the health problems of the man who has led it for so long.

The General Assembly is expected to send Vázquez Raña an official message wishing him a swift recovery.

In his absence, the organisation's three vice presidents - Ivar Sisniega of Mexico, Carlos Nuzman of Brazil and Keith Joseph of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - are expected to split Presidential duties between them over the Assembly's two-day duration tomorrow and Tuesday (January 13).

Keith Joseph of St Vincent and the Grenadines will be one of those assuming Presidential responsibilities ©Twitter



Final preparations for this year's Pan American and Parapan Games will be one item prominent on the agenda.

However, another issue has arisen in the shape of corruption allegations levelled at the Peruvian Olympic Committee (COP), the host National Olympic Committee for the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan Games.

The allegations have been strongly denied by the COP.

It seems only natural that the question of who eventually will succeed Vázquez Raña will also now be discussed as attendees get together away from formal proceedings.

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