Thousands of people had already registered to volunteer before today's deadline. 

Anyone aged 16 or older is eligible to sign up, with those under the age of 18 needing parental consent.

More than 3,000 people will eventually be selected for volunteer roles at the inaugural Junior Pan American Games, scheduled to be held from September 9 to 19.

They are promised experiences such as working in the Pan American Village, helping the media cover the Games, and managing competitions and participating in Medal Ceremonies.

Cali was chosen as the first host in March last year in front of Santa Ana in El Salvador and Monterrey in Mexico.

The city staged the senior Pan American Games in 1971 and the World Games in 2013.

More than 3,500 athletes aged between 18 and 21 are due to feature at Cali 2021, competing across 25 sports and 37 disciplines. 

In an attempt to provide young athletes with more opportunities to qualify for high-level international competitions, the winner of each discipline will automatically earn a place at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

Organisers claimed in December that preparation for the Games was going well, although there are concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on qualification and the event itself.