Medellin to Host 2016 BMX World Championships

The Colombian city of Medellin has been selected to host the BMX World Championships in 2016.

The International Cycling Union’s (UCI) decision to select Medellin is being seen as further proof that the city has moved on from the violence and drug problems they faced in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Medellin also hosted the 2010 South American Games and is bidding to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

UCI President Pat McQuaid said: “We’re delighted that Medellín, the ‘City of the Eternal Spring’ in the Andes Mountains, will be our host city in 2016 for the UCI BMX World Championships.

“The event will take place on a brand new track built in the city’s existing cycling complex.”

Boost to YOG organisers

The organisers of the 2018 YOG have taken the news as a boost to their bid ahead of the final decision which will be made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 4.

Speaking exclusively to iSportconnect, Medellin 2018 CEO Juan Camilo Quintero said: “We would like to thank the UCI for selecting Medellin as the host for this event.

“It is another validation that we have the experience and capability of staging big events, and highlights the interest for organisations to come to the Latin America market.

“This demonstrates again that the rest of the world recognises the reality that Medellin has a huge passion for sport and is a safe and entertaining place to host sporting events.”

Colombian Mariana Pajon, women’s Olympic gold medallist at London 2012 is an ambassador for the bid and a resident of Medellin.

Pajon said she was ‘excited’ that the BMX World Championships were coming to her home city and commented: “The world continues to realise that Medellín has a deep experience in organising sport competition and that it’s a safe and attractive location to bring events.

“The Youth Olympic Games would an ideal next step for the city, and truly would be the perfect fit for Medellín.”