With less than five weeks to go until the Pan-American U20 Championships (July 11-13), Athletics Canada has announced it will not send a team to this year’s event in Villavicencio, Colombia, citing safety concerns.
In an email sent to coaches and athletes on June 4, the national sports organization explained that the combination of extremely short notice and a lack of key logistical details, regarding security, accommodations and transportation, meant the team could not be assured of a safe and well-supported environment for its athletes and staff.
I’ll get in trouble if I say what I truly think, but losing another national team opportunity for young athletes is so deeply disappointing. pic.twitter.com/AqjAaxDbKw
— Evan Dunfee (@EvanDunfee) June 5, 2025
“Following a review of the Government of Canada’s travel advisory and consultations with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Global Affairs Canada, Athletics Canada has made the difficult decision not to send a team to this event,” the email read. “We are disappointed by the lost competition opportunity.”
At the previous edition of the Pan-American U20 Championships in 2023, Canada sent a 30-athlete team and brought home 16 medals—second only to the United States. The event is considered a major development opportunity for collegiate and junior athletes aspiring to represent Canada at future World Championships and Olympic Games. Among the 2023 team members were national 400m record holder and 2024 Olympian Christopher Morales Williams and NCAA indoor champion Will Floyd.
The Government of Canada currently advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution when visiting Colombia, citing elevated levels of crime and violence, with specific no-travel advisories near the Venezuelan border.
“We believe in providing U20 athletes with a safe international competition opportunity on an annual basis,” Athletics Canada said in a statement. “We will conduct a review of potential alternatives for future U20 national team programming in years without a U20 World Championship.”
The 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships were held in Cali, Colombia, where Athletics Canada sent a team of 33 athletes.
This year, Athletics Canada says its two primary national team focuses will be the Junior (U23) Pan American Games, taking place Aug. 9–23 in Asunción, Paraguay, and the 2025 World Athletics Championships, scheduled for Sept. 13–21 in Tokyo.
“While the age categories are not identical, the objectives are similar—offering a development opportunity for next-generation athletes,” said Athletics Canada.
