The decision, announced at the PASO General Assembly in Mexico today, comes at a time of some confusion in Peru, where the Peruvian Olympic Committee (COP) has been accused of embezzlement by a Congressman and José Quiñones, COP President, has offered to resign.

COP, meanwhile, has rebutted the allegations in a lengthy statement on its website, arguing that the money was used for legitimate sporting purposes at a time when Peru's standing on the international sporting stage is set to rise dramatically.

An Extraordinary General Assembly of COP has been called for January 23, at which the future of Quiñones, who has emphasised that his resignation offer was made before the allegations surfaced, is expected to be resolved.

PASO said that its coming visit was intended to "evaluate the current status of the Games' organisation and the actions that will have to be immediately undertaken to assure a satisfactory and timely fulfilment of the working programme approved by PASO".

José Quiñones has offered his resignation from his COP position, but also vowed the 2019 Pan American Games will remain in Peru ©PASO



Asked to elaborate by insidethegames, Ivar Sisniega, PASO first vice-president, who is playing a leading role in Puerto Vallarta in the absence of Mario Vázquez Raña, PASO's long-time President, said: "We need to understand the structure of the Organising Committee.

"We need to understand clearly how they are going to operate - from the federal Government [and] from the Olympic Committee."

Sisniega confirmed, however, that PASO had recently received a letter from the Peruvian Government confirming its 100 per cent support for the Games.

"At this moment", he said, Lima's status as host of the Games was not in doubt.

He hoped that the visit would take place in February at the latest.

Quiñones has cut a prominent and confident figure in Puerto Vallarta, talking enthusiastically about the Peruvian capital's sports facilities and announcing the dates - July 26 to August 10 - between which the Games would be held.

PASO said it had "full confidence" that COP and the Games Organising Committee would "fulfil the PASO statute, the Pan American Games regulations and the agreement of responsibilities signed by the parties".

Lima won the Games convincingly in October 2013, polling 31 votes against a combined tally of 26 for its three rivals.

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