Neven Ilic and Jaime Pizarro met for two hours to discuss the details of Santiago 2023 ©Panam Sports

Neven Ilic, the President of Panam Sports, met with new Chilean Sports Minister Jaime Pizarro as the pair look to work more closely in organising the Santiago 2023 Pan and Parapan American Games.

The two discussed infrastructure, operations within the Organising Committee and the best method to ensure the biggest event in the country since the 1962 FIFA World Cup will be a success.

"It is a great pleasure to reunite with Neven," said Pizarro, who represented Chile in football from 1987 to 1993, making 53 appearances.

"Now we are looking forward to this tremendous challenge of delivering the Pan American and Parapan American Games. 

"We recognize that Panam Sports is a very important ally for us.

"It is a privilege, but at the same time it’s a personal and professional challenge as well as a challenge for our country and for sport. 

"I have had the opportunity to meet with athletes and when I ask them how they feel, they tell me they are anxious. 

Panam Sports President Neven Ilic says Jaime Pizarro has the ability to help pull off a tremendous event ©Getty Images
Panam Sports President Neven Ilic says Jaime Pizarro has the ability to help pull off a tremendous event ©Getty Images

"Because surely being in your country, competing in your country and feeling the support of your family, your people and your compatriots is a tremendously outstanding milestone. 

"I am very happy for this moment and I hope that everything continues to progress in a very good way."

Between 2007 and 2009, Ilic and Pizarro led sport in Chile together. 

Ilic was President of the Chilean Olympic Committee while Pizarro was the Undersecretary of Sports during the first Government of Michelle Bachelet. 

Together they inaugurated the Santiago Olympic Training Center and have maintained a close relationship ever since.

"It is a tremendous pleasure," said Ilic.

"To see him working again in sport and knowing that is what he likes and what he is passionate about. 

"It is an honour for me to take on the Pan American Games with him. 

"I think he has many challenges but he has a tremendous ability to pull everything off. 

"He did it in his life as an athlete, and as an uUdersecretary. 

"Now as Minister, I have no doubt that we are going to make a great team and we are going to have some great Pan American Games in Santiago."

The 2023 Pan American Games is set to take place from October 20 to November 5, with the the Parapan Games taking place from November 17 to 26.