A total of 1,339 athletes from 23 countries have already earned their place at next year’s Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombian city Barranquilla ©Barranquilla 2018

A total of 1,339 athletes from 23 countries have already earned their place at next year’s Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombian city Barranquilla.

The Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO) revealed the figure, which accounts for 23.19 per cent of the available spots in the 47 sports, to Prensa Latina.

Mexico is the country with the highest number of athletes with 143, followed by Cuba with 103, Venezuela with 97, the Dominican Republic with 71, Puerto Rico with 61, Trinidad and Tobago with 52, Panama with 43 and Barbados with 36.

Host nation Colombia has the right to be represented by a 700-athlete delegation in all disciplines.

It has also been confirmed Guadalupe Island will participate in the quadrennial Games for the first time.

The 2014 edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mexican city Veracruz ©Getty Images
The 2014 edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mexican city Veracruz ©Getty Images

The 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games are scheduled to take place from August 3 to 19.

It will mark the 23rd edition of the event, which was first held in Mexico City in 1926.

Mexico staged the most recent edition in Veracruz in 2014.

Colombia last played host in 2006 in Cartagena. 

Panama City is due to hold the 2022 edition.