Suriname partners with Panam Sports to strengthen sports development

Suriname is taking an important step toward sustainable sports development through close cooperation with Panam Sports. Within this framework, Karla Alemán Cortez, Methodologist Advisory at Panam Sports, is currently in Suriname to provide substantive support to the national sports federations. On Monday, she paid a working visit to the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport.

The visit is part of a broader program initiated by the Suriname Olympic Committee (SOC) in collaboration with Panam Sports, the umbrella Pan-American sports organization. “The aim of the program is to help member countries upgrade their sports development visions and programs. After several consultations over the past year, including a face-to-face meeting in May last year in Miami, USA, it was decided to work intensively with the individual sports federations in Suriname over a period of six to eight months,” said SOC President Ramon Tjon A Fat.

The arrival of Alemán Cortez marks the second phase of the process. During this phase, she is physically present in the country to inspect and evaluate sports facilities and organizational structures, not only in Paramaribo but nationwide. Her findings will be documented in a report to be shared with Panam Sports and the Suriname Olympic Committee. Once completed, the project will be submitted to Olympic Solidarity, the operational arm of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Following approval, an intensive six-month working period will commence, during which Alemán Cortez will work closely with the federations to upgrade sports development programs and long-term strategic visions, particularly within Olympic sports. A key component of the program is knowledge transfer: a national expert will be involved throughout the process to ensure continuity and follow-up after its completion.

The program is fully funded by the IOC in cooperation with Panam Sports, while Suriname is responsible for its implementation. During the introductory meeting with the minister, the need for a stronger, more integrated sports structure was also discussed, in which the Olympic Committee and a national sports federation, together with the government, can serve the entire sports sector, including non-Olympic sports and Paralympic disciplines.